Demand Martin Smith Answers from Hope University!

On Monday, 21st September, Angry Women Of Liverpool reported that Martin Smith – who resigned from the Socialist Workers Party following rape and sexual harassment allegations –  is now based in the Social Work department at Liverpool Hope University, and is studying for a funded PhD. They linked Smith's rehabilitation to the fact that SWP loyalist Professor Michael Lavalette is head of the Social Work department.

Since then, neither Lavalette nor Hope University have made any satisfactory public response. Understandably, students and staff will be concerned. So we still need answers to the following serious questions:

·         Is Martin Smith on campus in any capacity?

·         Is Martin Smith studying for a PhD at Hope University?

·         Is this PhD funded? If so, who by?

·         Is Martin Smith going to be teaching during his time at Hope?

·         What role did Professor Lavalette play in Martin Smith coming to Hope?

·         What measures have been put in place to make sure students and staff are safe around Martin Smith?

Delta Removals are calling on anyone concerned by these issues to contact the university this Wednesday, 30th October, between 9 am and 5 pm. Please forward any responses to Delta.Removals2013@gmail.com. Also email this address if you would like to be involved in the campaign.

General university contacts:

Phone: 0151 291 3000

Fax: 0151 291 3000 (Free faxes can be sent from http://www.freepopfax.com/, input number as +44, leaving out first zero)

Twitter: @LiverpoolHopeUK

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LiverpoolHopeUniversity

The following appear to have some level of responsibility for the decision:

Michael Lavalette - Head of Social Work department - 0151 291 3145 - LAVALEM@hope.ac.uk - @mlavalette

Pauline Bray - Faculty Administrator (Social Sciences) - 0151 291 3418 - brayp@hope.ac.uk

John Brinkman - Dean of Sciences and Social Sciences - 0151 291 3611- BRINKMJ@hope.ac.uk

Rachel Foster - Faculty Administrator (Social Work) - 0151 291 3652 - fosterr1@hope.ac.uk

The following may need to be informed of what has happened:

Helen Ashworth - Lecturer in Childhood and Youth Studies - 0151 291 3742 - walkerh@hope.ac.uk

Ruth Atkinson-McGovern - Student support and well-being administrator - 0151 291 3919 - ATKINSR2@hope.ac.uk

Wendy Bignold - Vice Dean (Student Development and Well-being) - 0151 291 3017  - BIGNOLW@hope.ac.uk

Nicki Blundell - Practice Learning Coordinator (Social Work) - 0151 291 3695 - blunden@hope.ac.uk

Karen Brownrigg - PA to Dean of Students (Student Support and Well-being) - 0151 291 3282 - BROWNRK@hope.ac.uk

Liz Fern - Senior Lecturer in Social Work - 0151 291 3831 - fernl@hope.ac.uk

Barry Goldson - Professorial Fellow in Social Justice (Social Work, Care and Justice) - goldsob@hope.ac.uk

Joe Greener - Lecturer in Social Work - 0151 291 3587 - greenej@hope.ac.uk

Philomena Harrison - Senior Lecturer in Social Work - 0151 291 2045 - harrisp1@hope.ac.uk

David Merryweather - Lecturer in Childhood and Youth Studies - 0151 291 3886 - MERRYWD@hope.ac.uk

Rich Moth - Lecturer in Social Work - 0151 291 3853 - mothr@hope.ac.uk

Laura Penketh - Senior Lecturer in Social Work/Social Policy - 0151 291 3241 - penketl@hope.ac.uk

Maria Pentaraki - Senior Lecturer in Social Work - 0151 291 3423 - pentam@hope.ac.uk