A Kingston Dean speaks out

Martin McQuillan , Dean of  Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences at Kingston, writing in the Times Higher bravely criticises the dismissal of  student feedback in universities when their views contradict those of management. Criticising anything that goes against the views of the VC is dangerous nowadays. It is a pity, however, that he makes no mention of management’s total lack of attention to the students’ views that really matter at Kingston: the closure of the School of Surveying and Planning. When it comes to opposition to the VC slash and burn policy, the best one can hope for is to be ignored. Perhaps one cannot blame Martin. He doesn’t want to share the fate of the erstwhile Head of Surveying and Planning – escorted from her office into suspension. Summary and dismissal are words that go together here.