Times Higher Education: Call for independent inquiry into suspension...

A subject association has called for an independent inquiry into the suspension of a University of Nottingham academic for criticising the university’s role in the arrest of an administrator and a student under the terrorism act.

Inderjeet Parmar, BISA chairman, has now sent an open letter to Nottingham vice-chancellor David Greenaway reporting “a strong feeling of unease and concern” among BISA members over the question of academic freedom raised by Dr Thornton’s case.

Professor Parmar, who is professor of government at the University of Manchester, suggests it would be “helpful” to appoint an independent committee to investigate the case, about which “questions persist”.

“Such an independent process would help bring out the main issues and explore lessons learned, as well as helping to address the anxieties and concerns of BISA members,” he writes.