Dear All,

It was great to meet many of you again at the BSA annual conference last week. There were so many fantastic presentations by many of our members. As convenors we attended the study group and stream business lunch and one of the suggestions was that the Bourdieu Study Group could link up with possibly the social theory and/or education stream and have a small subtheme on Bourdieu next year at the annual conference. 

Thank you also to those that came to our first study group meeting.  As discussed we will be arranging a one day workshop/meeting in London this summer. We will be in contact with more details soon. 

On another note I’m emailing in a personal capacity about a campaign I’m running against the exploitation of PhD students that work as lecturers and in particular work for free: (https://www.facebook.com/groups/327251263995377/). Although I’m sure Bourdieu would have something to say about how this could reproduce and reinforce social class distinctions in academia.  

I’m currently writing something for various bodies about the campaign and I would like to include actual examples without naming specific students or universities. If you have had any type of experience that you think might be helpful to share please email me at [log in to unmask] Yours and the universities identity will be anonymised. It will also be useful if there are any academics (who do not mind being named) who support this campaign and would like to say why PhD students working on an unpaid basis as lecturers is wrong. 

Of course you are also welcome to email me if you think this is a good idea or you can see why some lecturers might be compliant in the hiring of PhD students who will teach for free.  There may also be other issues you feel are link to this campaign such as the situation for early career researchers at universities. I would like to hear any concerns you have about this.

If there are any PhD students in London you might be interested in a Postgrad teachers' discussion and organising meeting we are having  on Saturday, 28 April 2012, 11:00 until 13:00 CLM 3.07 Clements House LSE (https://www.facebook.com/#!/events/143906122405166/). 

Also thank you for those that have already contacted me and sorry for cross posting.

Best wishes, Jenny