00:00 11,000 signatures and counting.
00:03 That has been the response to Alvise Sforza Tarabocchio's petition
00:08 to save arts, humanities and social sciences
00:11 at the University of Kent in just the week it has been up.
00:15 Alvise is the head of the School of Cultures and Languages
00:19 where all the subjects are at risk of being closed
00:22 due to the university's financial difficulties.
00:25 These are very important subjects that need to continue to be taught.
00:28 Without them, East Kent would become a cold spot in their provision.
00:33 Students from, for instance, deprived backgrounds
00:37 wouldn't have access to our subjects unless they commute a long distance.
00:43 This is narrowing instead of widening participation,
00:47 one of the civic missions of the university and the sector.
00:50 But it's not just modern languages that could potentially be on the chopping block.
00:55 Comparative literature, philosophy, art history
00:58 are all potentially being phased out and for some anthropology students
01:03 this helps spur them into action.
01:06 We love anthropology, we love the department, we love the lecturers,
01:08 so we're really sad that it was being considered.
01:11 Also really concerned for our futures, what this could potentially mean for us.
01:16 Tyler and I are both graduating this year
01:18 but it doesn't look good to be graduating from a department that's been closed down.
01:24 Yeah and I was just really shocked, like it came as a big surprise
01:28 because just I know how like how much of an impact this department has
01:33 across the country and kind of internationally as well.
01:36 The students say they are worried what the potential closures could mean
01:40 for education in Kent.
01:42 A lot of us actually looked at going to Russell Group universities to study anthropology
01:47 yet so many students which have come here chose Kent over places like Durham
01:51 because of the unique course that this place, you know, that this course provides.
01:56 Of all the universities that do degrees similar to this most of them are Russell Group
01:59 so Kent really supplies you know access to students who may be not getting A*s, A*s, A*s
02:05 but you know at the end of the day we're the only university in Kent
02:08 that does evolutionary biology or anything like that
02:10 and you know in Charles Darwin's own you know home county
02:13 it's pretty shocking to not be studying it here.
02:16 The University of Kent have stressed to KMTV that these are all proposals at this stage.
02:21 In a statement a spokesperson for the university said
02:25 "Like many in the sector we are responding to a number of financial challenges
02:30 including fixed tuition fee, rising costs and changes in student behaviour.
02:35 As part of this we are exploring changes to our size and shape
02:38 to ensure we are well placed to grow in priority areas in the future.
02:43 None of the proposed plans being discussed would impact current students' ability to graduate
02:47 or complete their courses and as with any proposed organisational change
02:52 we will do everything we can to minimise the impact on their studies.
02:56 With protests across campus imminent the future for humanities at the University of Kent
03:02 is far from certain."
03:04 Oliver Leader, The Sacks, reporting for KMTV.
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