Global Friends of Roehampton Classics

It’s both absolutely great and depressing beyond words that @RoehamptonUni is listed as #2 in UK #Classics here in the @guardian rankings. Inexplicable why this university chose to axe its best (by far) dept, ignoring so many compelling counterarguments theguardian.com/education/ng-i…

@EllieMRoberts @brokenmindprof One thing to watch out for, which is what happened with @UoRClassics: uni administration changes Classics from a department to a “program”; axes the program; publicly claims it cut no departments

@EllieMRoberts @brokenmindprof Yes I’m afraid you are right. But a warning sign for all. Here’s a case where a university administration chose to reward its best and most highly-ranked department by axing it

@brokenmindprof @EllieMRoberts There were many letters, both from individuals and groups, and many of them were really powerful. If you look at the TL of this account you will see as many of the public ones as I could find. In this case it didn’t work

@EllieMRoberts Oimoi! That is horrible. So sorry to hear it. It's a good department. Is there any chance letters from the classics community will help? To whom should one write?

@colm_meaden @LiaBetti @RoehamptonUni @SweetBriaredu I should clarify: the devastating and needless cuts that @RoehamptonUni inflicted on itself will be “catastrophic for its reputation going forward”. Paradoxically, this debacle more than anything highlighted Roehampton’s quantified success & excellence so far in arts & humanities

@colm_meaden @LiaBetti What @RoehamptonUni has done here will be catastrophic for its reputation. The only similar disaster I can think of is when the admin of @SweetBriaredu in ‘15 fired all its staff & planned to close—but the alums rose up, threw the trustees and admin out, & turned the place around

Goodbye to our colleagues leaving the University of Roehampton. You have all made incredible contributions, helping to make Roehampton the place it is today. We will miss you and we know that the University will be the poorer for your absence. Good luck!🤞❤️ #RoeStopTheCuts

this isn’t just an attack on our members, it’s an attack on the arts and humanities, and the ability of working class people to access them! the Tories are attacking education precisely because they understand the power of it. They are terrified of an educated working class.

The University and College Union has said it could take legal action after the University of Roehampton confirmed it would go ahead with plans to close 19 courses and cull more than 60 jobs. (£) @HE_Analyst @ucu @RoehamptonUni @RoehamptonUCU researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-uni…

Roehampton gives an opportunity to students that otherwise would otherwise be unable to study at University. Now access to all these subjects will be cut off to the demographic of students that need it the most. #RoeStopTheCuts

This isn't just an attack on our members. It is a bonfire of arts and humanities courses.

Congrats to @UofGClassics Professor Catherine Steel, who has been elected a Fellow of the @BritishAcademy_, recognising her outstanding contributions to Classics. 🎉 Prof Steel joins a record number of female academics elected this year. 👏 Read more ➡️ gla.ac.uk/news/headline_…

@MatthewMordue Thanks for saying. I too think it is really important. I wrote to the roehampton VC back in 2019 when the storm clouds were already gathering. Not that it did any good, I am afraid.

Appalling news out of @RoehamptonUni. Beggars belief that an institution which purports to support students enjoy a 'fulfilling life' can so casually demolish one of the most successful depts in UK for opening doors to the subject area.

I have tweeted about this before. It is worse than sadd. It is about a wider erosion of humanities in new uni's (and ones which have done huge amounts for a new style of classics/humanities, inclusivity etc etc_)

I am beyond disappointed and absolutely gutted about the destruction that will be moving forward at Roehampton. What's happening to the university is a targeted attack on the arts and humanities. If you haven't been in the loop... (1/11)

Devastating news about the future of our university is now confirmed🧵