Warwick UCU calls for return of suspended Literature professor

The Warwick University and College Union (UCU) unanimously passed an emergency motion to have the University reinstate suspended professor Thomas Docherty on Thursday 13 March.

Mr Docherty is a professor at the English and Comparative Literature department and is nationally known as a critic of higher education leadership and policy.

The University however has rejected claims that his suspension was related to his politics.

According to Times Higher Education (THE), an academic suggested on Twitter that he had heard Professor Docherty had been “suspended indefinitely for anti-cuts activism”.

The Warwick Tab had also recently published an online article highlighting rumours that Mr Docherty had been suspended due to activism before it was revised.

Warwick UCU released a statement saying: “[Mr Docherty] has been absent from his post for a number of weeks without explanation.

“[T]he procedural irregularities and lack of transparency in this process violate the principles of natural justice and are having adverse effects on the well being and reputation of Thomas Docherty and the staff and students in the department and the university.

“Warwick UCU therefore calls for his immediate return to work.”

The University press office explained: “given inaccurate reports elsewhere, we would wish to confirm that a member of academic staff has been suspended pending formal disciplinary process.

“Contrary to those inaccurate reports elsewhere, the disciplinary allegations in no way relate to the content of the individual’s academic views or their views on HE policy.”

The Warwick Students’ Union (SU) issued a statement yesterday clarifying that “we do not know anything else at this stage and are unable to obtain further details. It is therefore extremely important not to jump to conclusions given the lack of information available at this time.”

They added: “The English department are trying to ensure that disruption to students is minimal.”

Dr Joseph Jackson has been positioned as tutor of one of Professor Docherty’s seminar groups.

Helen Gallico, second-year English Literature student in this group, told the Boar: “Joe was fantastic in how he reacted. He only had a couple of days’ notice, and didn’t know about half the module, but he’s risen to the occasion admirably.”

A change.org petition opposing the suspension of Professor Docherty had also been launched and gained 66 support signatures. The petition however has now been closed.

Its description stated: “Thomas Docherty, former head of the English Department, has allegedly been suspended, and no explanation has been given to students.

“The university denies that it has any relation to his criticism of changes in Higher Education, but there seems no other reason to suspend such an interesting, enthusiastic academic who is well-liked by students.

“We ask the university to explain their actions to us.”

Mr Docherty has written opinion pieces for THE criticising the marketisation and bureaucratisation of higher education.

In a 2013 article on mission groups, he described the Russell Group as “a self-declared elite…even exerting a negative influence over others” and “a polite version of a kind of gang warfare”.

Thomas Docherty is author of For the University (2011) and an executive member of the Council for the Defence of British Universities, having been its founding policy director during its establishment.