Leicester uni cuts protest

Leicester University plans to shut down its German department, resulting in three lecturers being made redundant and eliminating that choice for future students. Astonishingly, these cuts are going through with the support of the students union executive.

On 23 October students lobbied Leicester university senate meeting which voted to close the department. Socialist Students were there giving support to the students, and plan to be fully involved in a campaign including the students and staff trades unions. We will not only have to get the university to reverse the decision but also force the students union to back it!

On the lobby Stephen Bott, a graduate of the department said: "If German were to go, then the whole school of modern languages would be under threat. Students who would have applied here will go elsewhere. It is a hugely important language...

"The Students Union ought to be supporting us. They claim it will not affect current students - this is incorrect. As the department winds down it would mean less resources for current students by their last year."

Becci Heagney - Leicester Socialist Students