Members are asked to sign an online petition opposing this move.

The Petition:

We do not support the proposal made by University Management to make our University Senate smaller and less democratic.

At the moment, a great majority of Senate members are elected from the University staff and students. Around 50 elected staff and 9 elected students sit on Senate.

Under the new proposed model, elected representation would be cut to between 13 and 20 staff, and just 3 or 4 students. Meanwhile, unelected posts will rise, meaning elected representatives will no longer have a majority in Senate.

We, the undersigned, support the democratic principles that make the University of Sussex stand out from among its peers.

We do not approve this proposed attack on our democratic values, and call upon our management to scrap this proposal immediately.

http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/SaveSussexSenate/

UPDATE: We are pleased to report that Senate did not accept the proposal as it was drafted and instructed that the University undertake further work and consultation to develop new proposals which preserve an elected majority on Senate. The matter will be brought back to Senate in the Summer term.