The news is out on Twitter that @SASNews @UoLondon plans to close both the Institutes of Commonwealth and Latin American Studies @ICwS_SAS @ILAS_SAS. I’ve not commented publicly about this because I care passionately about the future of the School, but I can no longer stay silent

The directors of @ICwS_SAS and @ILAS_SAS were excluded from the planning process that led to this decision, which was only announced last week. Formally, a ‘consultation’ process has now begun. But the time-table for closure suggests this will be pushed ahead.

Unless the decision is changed, @ICwS_SAS and @ILAS_SAS will close around Xmas and I and a number of my colleagues will be made redundant. Dozens of fellows who do amazing work promoting work on Black British History & Decolonization will be without an affiliation.

@SASNews is an extraordinary body and I’ve spent over a decade trying to ensure its success. But to be credible, it needs the specialisms that @ICwS_SAS & @ILAS_SAS provide. In the current academic and political climate it seems incredible that these are being lost.

If you care about the work that we do PLEASE make your views known to the leadership of the School of Advanced Study and the University of London. If they are serious about the current ‘consultation’ there maybe a chance of reversing this decision.