To: Professor Frances Corner, Warden of Goldsmiths, University of London
Dear Professor Corner
My name is Dr Ruth Adams and I have been acting as the External Examiner for MA Culture Industry since last year.
I am writing to inform you of my decision to resign from my post as External Examiner, in protest at the unequal treatment of women union members at Goldsmiths, and recent and planned cuts to Goldsmiths staff, which I have been made aware of both through my membership of UCU and in covering in the national media.
It is quite unacceptable that university work practices should subject parents and carers to significant and sustained levels of stress, particularly during a time of national crisis and duress. Government schemes exist to support employees in this situation, to assist in protecting individuals from unnecessary risk, and to keep infection rates down, so it is not clear why these have not been used in this context.
I join my colleagues at Goldsmiths in asking you to reverse both this discriminatory policy on the question of furlough, and to meet with UCU representatives to try to resolve this dispute over the threat of mass redundancies, as a matter of urgency.
Yours sincerely
Dr Ruth Adams
Senior Lecturer in Cultural & Creative Industries, King’s College London