updated 17.02.2022
- What constitutes an event that takes place with Goldsmiths or involving Goldsmiths?
Events that convey reputational or financial benefit to the university as an institution. For example, an event held on university property in which the university receives payment for the use of facilities, an annual conference that is hosted by the university or an event launching a new project or enterprise. Please note that Goldsmiths Centre for Contemporary Art (CCA) and Goldsmiths Students’ Union are exempt from the boycott, though we would encourage event organisers to consider taking some of the steps outlined in the answer to question 3
The involvement of Goldsmiths employees is a necessary but not sufficient condition for an event to fall under the boycott.
- What types of events are exempt from the boycott?
Events that form part of core teaching are exempted from the boycott, as are events that relate to the completion of an externally funded research grant, such as instances where a post-doctoral or early career researcher is contracted to organise a research event, their funding is coming to an end, and not doing so would prevent them from fulfilling the terms of their contract. For events relating to existing research partnerships, we would encourage union members to consider taking a number of the steps listed below.
- What is best practice for exempted events?
We encourage all event organisers to do some of the following:
- Consider cancelling or postponing the event
- Remove all mentions of Goldsmiths and any Goldsmiths branding from communications about the event. In addition, research centres could announce publicly that they are temporarily dissociating themselves from Goldsmiths, in solidarity with staff facing redundancy
- Ensure that Goldsmiths communication channels are not used for the event (e.g. the college’s event calendars, college or departmental social media)
- Relocate events to another location or move online
- Present your research in a personal capacity, not as an employee of Goldsmiths
- If a research centre’s funding comes from Goldsmiths, that funding could instead be used to support students/precarious staff/professional services staff projects that could be related to their experiences of the College/dispute, and in doing so advance critiques of the university
- Even though an event is exempted from greylisting, our local dispute can still be highlighted, e.g. include statements on our dispute and the greylisting in communications; open the event with an acknowledgement of our dispute and greylisting; encourage attendees to write to the university in support of GUCU’s demands; encourage attendees to make a donation to our local strike fund
With regards to non-exempt events that go ahead on-campus and in-person, GUCU will consider having a socially distanced and Covid-safe physical presence outside the event. However, it is important that union members are mindful of how they engage with attendees at these events, as this may include local residents and staff from community groups who may be unaware of the greylisting campaign. There are power dynamics to consider in these interactions, in relation to our position as staff members working at an extractive institution such as Goldsmiths.