http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/2010/may/07/philosophy-cuts-closures-middlesex-university

International academics protest at Middlesex philosophy closure

Noam Chomsky said he was deeply disturbed at the decision to close the Middlesex University philosophy department. Photograph: Rex Features

More than 60 internationally renowned academics from across the globe have written to the dean of Middlesex University urging him to reverse the decision to close the philosophy department.
Alain Badiou, Judith Butler, Slavoj Žižek and Noam Chomsky were among those who condemned the decision.
Chomsky said he was "deeply disturbed to learn of the decision" and that he hoped it would be reversed "for the sake of the university, the intellectual life in the UK, and not least the future of this ancient and indispensible discipline worldwide".
Michael Hardt, from Duke University in North Carolina, US, said: "I can think of no other philosophy department in the US, UK, or Australia that rises to the level of Middlesex [in the study of continental philosophy]."
The students were informed by email of the decision to close the department on 28 April. They set up a meeting with the dean of arts and education, Edward Esche, and the deputy vice-chancellor, Margaret House, for 4 May but Esche and House cancelled the meeting, saying it clashed with student coursework deadlines.
On Tuesday the students decided to take matters into their own hands, and occupied the Mansion House building on the Trent Park campus, where they remain.
First-year undergraduate Nilza Apareida Bento said: "I am absolutely devastated. I was so enthusiastic at the beginning of the course. I've been working so hard and all of a sudden I received an email saying that it was going to close.
"We paid so much money and now we are not going to be able to finish the course. It is absolutely appalling. I have nowhere to go, and no idea what is going to happen next.




save middlesex philosophy

Bullying managers at Middlesex University have suspended

three philosophy staff and four philosophy students for the

‘crime’ of campaigning to save their own jobs and courses.

The Middlesex managers want to shut down the university’s world

renowned philosophy centre. They say philosophy makes ‘no

measurable contribution’ to their profits.

Students occupied the Mansion Building at Middlesex’s Trent Park

campus for 12 days in protest at the closure decision. Management

reacted by lashing out with suspensions against staff and students.

They are threatening everyone involved in this peaceful protest.

We must not let them get away with trashing Middlesex’s

academic reputation, shutting down successful departments

and intimidating staff and students who stand up to them.

Come to our protest rally on Thursday 27 May, 4pm onwards, at

Middlesex University’s Hendon campus, NW4 4BT. We are also

appealing for people to come to Hendon on Friday 28 May from

10am onwards to support students facing disciplinary hearings.

check www.saveMDXphil.com for news and updates