THE STUDENT – DR GARY DUKE
Last year, Gary Duke, a part-time lecturer and PhD student at the University of Salford, was sacked for "gross misconduct", after the University found that he had circulated a spoof newsletter (click here for previous story).
The `Vice Consul's Newsletter' was published during a heated campaign against up to 150 job losses at the University, which aimed to cut costs by £12.5million in order to "re-orientate the University's budget" towards, amongst other things, the University's new base at MediaCityUK, the costs of which were was estimated at £40million. Meanwhile, the number of staff at the Salford University earning over £100,000 was growing, including the then Vice Chancellor, Professor Michael Harloe, who was earning well over £200,000 in salary and pension payments.
The spoof Vice Consul's Newsletter stated…
"I have it on good authority that a small unrepresentative minority of extremists are demanding a pay rise in the region of 8-10%. Of course Vice Chancellors deserve this amount given the huge collective workloads we have, and the everyday pressures we have to operate under…when having to decide between Italian or American carpets for the office…The sheer concentration and super human effort required in order for my chin to resist the pull of gravity whilst posing for my portrait…" etc etc
Gary Duke was found guilty of `bringing the University into disrepute', sacked as a lecturer and suspended as a PhD student. He was allowed to complete and submit his PhD, for which he has now graduated, but is barred from all University premises and events, including the graduation ceremony.
"Although I have come to accept that senior management are pretty vindictive, I think that they and in particular Dr Graves (University Registrar) have stooped to new lows in barring both myself, my family, my friends and former colleagues from celebrating my graduation at this important event" says Dr Duke.
He adds that he wishes to "expose those at the top of the University who seek to persuade that they are fair-minded, ethical, trustworthy and brazenly proclaim to uphold the universal ideals of human and civil rights whilst acting in the most petty and vindictive manner".
A University of Salford spokesperson responded… "Dr Duke is no longer a member of the University of Salford. He was dismissed from the University of Salford on grounds of his gross misconduct. He is excluded from the University's premises, services and all of its events for that reason."
Dr Duke is taking his dismissal by the University to an Employment Tribunal in September. The University cuts policy that Dr Duke and others were fighting against was instigated by the Vice Chancellor Professor Michael Harloe, who has since retired, picking up £307,000 in payments during his last year…
Part Two click here…Salford University Fat Cats
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