As organisers of a conference on 'Ethics, Accountability and Trust'
(which relates to themes of social responsibility in our work as
professionals), we felt it not so much ironic, but irresponsible that
Gary Craig took it upon himself to circulate mis-information about
Lancaster University and hence cast a slur over the credibility and
worthiness of our forthcoming conference.  We have pointed out to Gary
Craig the nature of the mis-information he has circulated, and invited
him to retract or correct his comments.  His silence suggests he has
declined our offer, and so we feel that it is both accountable and
responsible for us as conference organisers to clear up this issue.

First, Gary Craig has failed to distinguish (or is confused by) the
difference between the university body (senate and the wider membership
of the university), and individuals (i.e the V-C and University
Secretary) who pursued the action against the George Fix Six (GF6). The
University body - in the form of Senate - passed a motion critical of
the manner in which the University (i.e. the VC) had proceeded in
respect of the prosecution and asking for a review of its research
ethics policy,  commercialisation, campus rules on free speech and
protests etc. This motion was drafted by the local AUT and passed with
very few opposed.

Gary Craig's description of the event in question is wrong. The
University was not, to our knowledge, hosting an arms trade event. The
GF6 protested on the more general grounds of the commercialisation of
University research and the consequent possible involvement of ethically
dubious firms such as maybe arms manufacturers. Our understanding is
that the actual roll call on the day was anodyne. 

Gary Craig's decision to withdraw as an external examiner is a personal
matter, although we are unaware of any such appointment. Any wider
proposal to boycott external examining at Lancaster would be highly
irresponsible and, we suspect, would be unlikely to be supported by the
AUT, certainly not after any consultations with our branch.

The GF6 issue has been widely publicised over several months.  As far aw
we know, there has been no suggestion of boycotting academic events or
activities at Lancaster. So we cannot understand why Gary Craig has
chosen to use this e-mail list now to propose such action.

As conference organisers we should stress that there is  widespread
concern felt within the University body at the actions taken by the V-C
in respect of the GF6.  This concern has led to a systematic review of
research policy here at Lancaster. The conference should be seen, not as
'ironic', but as a proper part of an entirely commendable review of
research in HE and beyond.  Should Gary Craig wish to contribute to this
scholarly debate, he is of course, most welcome to submit an abstract.

As conference organisers, we believe that recent events at Lancaster,
and the ensuing debate in which we have all engaged, makes us extremely
well-placed to host a conference on Ethics.  A recent article in the
Times Higher supports this view.  

If you would like to be active in such debates, please come along to the
conference - we have extended the deadline for submission of abstracts!

Further conference details and booking arrangements can be found at:
http://www.lancs.ac.uk/fass/events/ethics/programme.htm
 

Carole Truman, On behalf of the conference organising group.


ON 05/05/06, GARY CRAIG WROTE:

I think it is ironic that this conference is being held at Lancaster
University, which recently insisted on taking students to court (and
pursuing aggressively them through the appeal process)who were
protesting against the unethical behaviour of Lancaster University in
hosting arms trade events. I would have hoped that we might use
opportunities such as this to put more pressure on the University. 
Several of us have already told the University that we will withdraw
from external examining responsibilities unless it stands down from
action against the students. I hope the student body will use the
opportunity to protest against the behaviour of the university.
Gary Craig

On Fri, 5 May 2006 11:38:33 +0100 "Truman, Carole" 
<[log in to unmask]> wrote:

> Can I draw your attention to the above international conference which 
> is being held at Lancaster University, UK on the 12th and 13th 
> September 2006.
> 
> The conference will explore issues of Social Responsibility, 
> Accountability and Trust within an interdisciplinary arena, including 
> contributors from Sociology, Social Policy, Health and Medicine, the 
> Environment, Business and Management as well as Philosophy.
> 
> Key-note speakers include: 
> 
> Lord David Puttnam, CBE - President of UNICEF, Politician and 
> Film-maker who will talk on Accountability and Responsibility in 
> Public Life
> 
> Professor Frank Furedi - author of "Politics of Fear", "Where Have All

> the Intellectuals Gone?", "Therapy Culture", "Paranoid Parenting" and 
> "Culture of Fear"
> On the second day of the conference there will be a panel comprising 
> representatives from major UK research funders (ESRC, AHRC, Joseph 
> Rowntee Foundation, MRC).
> 
> We would particularly welcome more participation from the fields of 
> Social Policy and Social Research since the conference provides the 
> opportunity to explore current debates around ethics, social 
> responsibility, accountability and so on within a truly 
> inter-disciplinary environment.  We have extended the deadline for our

> call for papers until 31st May. If you would like to offer a paper, 
> please submit an abstract of between 250 and 1000 words to:
> [log in to unmask] as soon as possible.
> 
> Further conference details and booking arrangements can be found at:
> http://www.lancs.ac.uk/fass/events/ethics/programme.htm
> 
> 
> Carole Truman
> Department of Applied Social Science
> Lancaster University
> Lancaster LA1 4YL
> 
> Tel	+44 (0)1524 594090
> Fax 	+44 (0)1524  592475
> 
> e-mail	[log in to unmask]
>