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Just wanted to let you know that I will not be posting any longer on X thanks to all the follows in the past I will be posting in future at @academicdiary.bsky.social
Les Back
15.9K posts
Les Back
@AcademicDiary
Teaches sociology at the University of Glasgow
- I thought I would never write this but I am leaving Goldsmiths after more than 40 years as a student & teacher. The prospect of drawing my salary while watching colleagues lose their jobs is unliveable. This is not the 'Great Tradition' of learning Richard Hoggart described.
- My thoughts are with Goldsmiths colleagues this weekend who are waiting to find out who will receive redundancy notices on Monday. Please share - on why this matters to anyone who believes in the transformative power of education.
- So brilliant to have footballer and activist Jason Lee part of the discussion yesterday - while Baddiel and Skinner have done a bit of public hand wringing about the racist ridiculing of him on Fantasy Football he said they have never contacted him directly or apologised.
- Really moving today to see students at the University of Glasgow graduation wearing ‘UCU Rising’ sashes. One wore a sign around her neck with the words - “Renegotiate Now”. A lesson in dignity and generous solidarity.
- Last night at the Tesco on Hope St this bottle of whisky was half price. Then I got to the check out was told it didn’t apply to me because I am not a Tesco Clubcard holder. The security guard, got out his card and pressed it on the reader ‘there you go Big Man’. ❤️ Glasgow.
- Thanks for the many kind responses to my tweets from Mayday hospital. Sadly my mum Betty Joan Back died there this evening. She received incredible care. The last tune she listened to on the playlist I made for her was Neil Diamond’s Sweet Caroline - hands touching hands.
- For all those feeling pressure from the REF results today remember the defeats are as hollow as the victories. The deep value in all intellectual work is cheapened by reducing it to these rankings and metrics.
- The hospital night is so terrifying for elderly patients. Screams of anguish echo round the ward. I decided to put my noise cancelling headphones on my Mum and pipe some Neil Diamond into her ears. She started to sing unwittingly a frail thin chorus of... Sweeeet Caroline 🎸🎧🎶
- Opened my office door to lovely surprise opened the office door to this - today is my 1st anniversary of joining the University of Glasgow. At the end of the day universities are made by the people who do the everyday work. ❤️❤️
- Went yesterday to visit Stuart with all the radical spirits in Highgate cemetery. Left me with a deep sadness. But was able to help a lost student from Chicago find their way here before leaving.
- Last Thursday the PhD students at Goldsmiths threw a lovely farewell party for me… they are making the future of sociology and it felt safe in their hands. Lovely and generous gifts of a ‘zine, books and a bottle of whisky. Perfect. Thank you ❤️
- Closing the files and dropping the Mic - thanks to all of you who have written nice things about sharing these fragments from academic life at Goldsmiths. Wish all the very best to friends and colleagues here. To better days ahead. Last batch of UG assignments and exams marked.