Cardiff University sparks row after falsely accusing Nation.Cymru of publishing ‘fake news’

Martin Shipton
Cardiff University’s beleaguered Vice Chancellor Wendy Larner has sent a message to all staff falsely accusing Nation.Cymru of publishing “fake news” about her and berating the University and College Union for criticising her.
Professor Larner is heading up proposals to cut 400 jobs at the university and shut down five of its Schools, including Nursing and Music.
The plan has been condemned by the university’s unions, including the UCU, as well as by many politicians and members of Wales’ wider civil society.
Earlier this week Nation.Cymru ran a story that quoted extensively from a Substack article that took Prof Larner to task for comments she had made that implied poverty was caused by genetics
In an interview with an academic from Warwick University in 2018, Prof Larner stated: “ Let me be very clear. I am convinced we need to think very hard about the future of the social sciences, and there is no guarantee we will continue to occupy the spaces we do. Big Data is only one way in which the social sciences might be diminished in the future.
“The rise of epigenetics is another. If things like poverty have a genetic explanation, the taken for granted approaches and conceptual frameworks we use as social scientists to explain poverty will need to be re-worked. “And then there are the debates about the relationships between the human and the non-human in an era of catastrophic climate change. Developments in these three areas – big data, epigenetics, climate change – all have potential to hollow out the traditional social sciences. And when the importance of social sciences is no longer taken for granted, we will need to have compelling answers for those who will question the value of what we offer.”
‘Shocking’
Our story included a statement from the university’s UCU branch that said: “It is shocking that someone in Prof Larner’s position should say such seemingly offensive and insensitive things, but sadly our members are now used to being shocked by her conduct. This will make Cardiff University staff further question whether she is fit to lead an organisation like this one.
“After reading her words it will be hard for many members not to feel that the cruel and unnecessary cuts she is making at Cardiff University are part of a culture war that devalues the arts and humanities and uncritically worships technology in a manner that in some ways aligns with reactionary elements within global politics.
“In the context of her post-cuts vision for a more elitist university, cutting schools like nursing and favouring what Prof Larner has called ‘higher quality’ students, the attitude towards poverty indicated here is disturbing.”
Following the publication of our story, Prof Larner sent an email to all members of Cardiff University’s staff stating: “Dear colleague, When taking a role such as this, scrutiny is to be expected, and indeed, welcomed.
The proposals we have put forward for Our Academic Future are, I know, deeply worrying and distressing for many of our staff.
“Having been through a similar exercise previously, and understanding the scale of the challenge to make us academically and financially sustainable, I was prepared for personal attacks on me and other members of the University Executive Board (UEB).
“I also knew my salary, albeit lower than my predecessor and many other Russell Group Vice-Chancellors, would be seized upon. I knew my words would quite rightly be analysed, sometimes misinterpreted, sometimes criticised.
“However, today I was extremely disappointed to read on a news website a piece that repeated claims that grossly (and willfully) misinterpreted my words from a 2018 academic journal article. To claim that I believe there is a link between genetics and poverty is an extremely personal attack that is unacceptable.
“Anyone interested in academic rigour will be able to see in the journal I am discussing epigenetics (not genetics), arguing that should a proven link be made between epigenetics and poverty, we would need to rethink the existing related theory. I expect many colleagues, albeit perhaps quietly in many instances in these circumstances, would agree that once confronted with new facts, old theories need to be looked at anew.
“That one of our three recognised Trade Unions chose to endorse this article by offering a comment, is also deeply disappointing.
“I believe we’ve reached a junction in terms of how this debate is conducted. As I make clear at the outset, scrutiny is to be expected. However, this false report (fake news if you will), and its subsequent endorsement by UCU must be a one-off. We are better than this.
“Our community has told me repeatedly that dignity at work and study is deeply important and engrained in who we are as a community. This is partly why today I am calling this out – because I want us to ensure that we are a place where we can discuss the most difficult of topics, where we can completely disagree with each other’s viewpoints – in a way that is respectful and constructive.
“We continue to invite all staff and students – along with our campus trade unions – to work with us throughout the consultation period to deliver a sustainable future for our university. UEB members will continue to actively engage with our community, to be visible and present. I look forward to seeing many of you at the next all-staff webinar on Monday.”
‘Widespread cuts’
In response to Prof Larner’s email, the Cardiff University UCU branch has now sent a message to its members saying: “We were disappointed to read the Vice-Chancellor’s all-staff email on Thursday March 6 accusing UCU Cardiff of ‘endorsing’ an article published by an award-winning, and well-respected, journalist from Nation Cymru. Representing our members in the news media when asked for comment does not equal endorsement. At a time when the University Executive Board are threatening widespread cuts to programmes, schools and at least 400 jobs, we are concerned that UEB and the VC are prioritising this as such an urgent matter at a time of great stress for many of us.
“To be clear, the branch was approached for comment on the VC’s words in an academic interview published in the academic journal Exchanges. In line with our long-standing communications practice, we gave a perspective in a way which provided us with a platform for communicating our campaign messages around the unnecessary scale of the proposed cuts as well as the ways in which they will create a more elitist University at the expense of staff, students, and the wider community.
“Our comment also drew attention to the ways in which the Vice Chancellor’s recent actions, and the bad press they have attracted, have led to a massive loss of confidence in her fitness to lead the institution. Senior managers seem to have forgotten the massive power imbalance between themselves and the rest of us and have chosen here to play the role of victim. We stand by our claim that the VC and UEB are not worthy of our trust, and we urge all University staff to engage with our Vote of No Confidence in the VC and UEB.
“In addition, we are seriously concerned by a further email the branch received from Human Resources on the same day threatening us with investigation under the Dignity at Work policy for engaging in legitimate media-facing campaigning. The cuts have already instilled a climate of fear among affected staff, making many of us afraid to speak out in public for fear of our jobs. This kind of threat will not silence us in our campaigning work on behalf of members.
“At University Senate – one of the university’s governing bodies – senate members voted strongly to endorse the following motion: ‘Owing to the lack of a clear and compelling Business Case, the Senate is not convinced on the evidence shown of the necessity for and validity of the Academic Futures project as a path to a sustainable future for our university.’
“The branch welcomes this further evidence of the depth of feeling and lack of trust in the proposed cuts. Thanks to all university members who voted on this.”
Mark Mansfield, CEO of Nation.Cymru, said: “We stand by our original story. It is outrageous that the Vice Chancellor should make a false allegation of ‘fake news’ against us as a way of deflecting from the serious crisis at the university she and her colleagues are responsible for.”
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Sadly this is the way in the Trumpian post-truth era… you do and say whatever you like, and should someone call you out on it, you simply say it’s fake news and carry on.
Don’t forget Fat Shank’s part in all this, talking straight bananas and being Putin’s foot on our security services while spy networks were being set up and the city and their lawyers oversaw a massive robbery…
Nice one Mark, guilty as charged…
Homo-Superioris is spreading far and wide in positions of influence…
Does she even understand what epigenetics is?
She should talk to the Dutch about their “Hunger Winter” studies.
I thought Lamarckism had well and truly been put out with the trash!
Lamarckism as expounded is likely to be false but there are influences on the mother which affect gene expression in the fetus. Likely nutrition is one as expounded in the Barker Hypothesis (look it up) and as discovered in wartime Holland.
I only read part of the article and I’m with Martin and Nation Cymru. The statement by Ms Larner I stopped at was ‘If things like poverty have a genetic explanation’. There is a simple explanation for poverty which has nothing whatsoever to do with genetics. It is simply this. Endemic underpaying and overcharging. If you look up ‘Endemic’, the definition refers to a regularly recurring disease which, in this case, is deprivation of financial resources to the people. Year on year, it gets worse. The next year will always be worse than the year before if financial asphyxiation continues… Read more »
Anyone who has worked in HE in the last 20-30 years will know that there is a simple solution to lack of funds, just lay off at least the top three layers of management, saving a fortune, the place will run just fine without them.
I suspect this will be the case in many areas.
Reminds me of the Baroness…
The effect of Cardiff Uni on the Senedd and the governance of Cymru should be examined in detail…
I have a simple question. Why did the university appointment someone from New Zealand and although her academic credentials are excellent they display absolutely no knowledge of Wales or our university sector.
Why do we put up with this?
It fits well with the old time honoured default position of so many of our “ruling” elites. No one who’s any good will be found in Wales, must look to London or one of the “major” centres like Oxbridge. If that doesn’t work look further afield and someone will eventually crawl out from under a stone.
A further comment. The Vice- Chancellor struggles to get by on £290,000 per annum, plus tax free allowance of £8,000 and apparently an international re-location allowance.
But who gives a stuff about Wales higher education sector?
A fairly common mantra among V-C’s UK wide is that they are now running results orientated businesses in an internationally competitive market which justifies much bigger salaries and benefits than they currently receive from an ungrateful employer!
I say “what a load of bollox, your product is decaying year on year with fewer real centres of excellence surviving the rush to the bottom”
They import those they wish to shut the place down… My concern is this, are we going to become a Theocracy where only the Creationist prospers or is even represented… If the Rev Millar gets to be FM, according to his mission statement, that is a probability… Mr Amazon’s ‘One Shop Fits All’ is more inclusive, as in Mr Millar’s mind there is a heavenly final solution waiting for the rest of us on a new Earth and the wicked dead will be raised and judged… I won’t go on it is diabolical…so scary ! And he is wagging his… Read more »
In answer to your question, certainly not the Welsh Senedd Government.
I’m not even sure the Welsh Senedd Government cares about anything to do with Wales or Welsh life.
I can see that in both the original article and in the statement shared above Prof Larner places epigenetics first and poverty second. This implies a causation, ie that epigenetic mutations could be a cause of poverty – quite an extreme view, and one which could be associated with eugenics. This order is important, although I hope not purposeful. A link between poverty and epigenetics on the other hand would imply that a state of poverty may affect epigenetic changes (on a population level), something that if proven, would indeed change the field of social science and perhaps make it… Read more »
nah: look at the statement and what marks her remarks as truly stupid and incomp-etent is that she mentions epigenetics, then poverty and then genetics, which means she conflates epigenetics (nothing happens at DNA or genetic level) with genetics. For someone trying to make such a ‘clever’ argument about potentially alternative causes for poverty, she really should not have got that so wrong.
Outrageous. Track down Ms Larner’s car crash appearance on Radio 4’s Today programme a few weeks back. Awful. Keep digging Martin…the students and faculty of a great university deserve proper leadership.
The piece you quote looks like a candidate for the Pseuds Corner column in Private Eye. Poverty has many contributing factors and likely certain genetic -that is inherited – states may contribute in some situations. Chronic illness which can be inherited is often associated with poverty as an example. I am not exactly sure what she meant by epigenetics as it is a word with various meanings both technical and more general. In biology it refers to various changes which can affect gene expression. How that can be linked to poverty I have no idea. More loosely it can relate… Read more »
I would imagine that the emerging “science” (you lab rats form a polite line) of epigenetics, once it has conveniently explained away endemic, systemic and entrenched poverty and class differentials in advanced capitalist societies, will quickly advance a convincing explanation for the rise of individuals occupying “leadership” positions with absolutely no capacity for it other than their extraordinary arrogance, applied professional connections and an unashamed desire for personal grift.
“Rots from the head” has NEVER been more true.
I work for Cardiff Uni. Trust me she’s absolutely hated by 99% of the staff. Something that everyone seems to either ignore or doesn’t know is that she did this exact same thing to the University of Wellington. She fired 229 people, shut schools and cost many people some very serious financial struggles just as covid was hitting. She has no ties to Wales, she’s been brought in to destroy the uni and our lives and then she can leave the country to go on to the next Uni she wants to destroy. She’s evil pure and simple.. oh and… Read more »
Yep…
Drafted in to hold the fire sale…by who, the Uni exec Board, Damion Wallford Davies, David Langley two year post bring change, a HE disruptor,
Ministerial approval; who signed off, Gething ?
Directors of everything £5million in that place…
David Langley is the person of interest, a year into a two year hit job….
Someone fetch the ducking school and the wooden horse, it is time to pin their ears back in the Senedd…
The Baroness, Julie James, Jeremy Miles, Mark Drakeford, Iranca Davies, half a million plus quid a year, a semi-retirement scheme just like always…
Two fundamental questions. Who appointed her in the first place?
And…what is the Welsh government – and opposition – doing about it?
answer to the secon question: Sweet F***all.
Cardiff University has become a bad joke. Time to clear out bad actors on a top-down basis, starting with this deeply unpleasant individual.
The original article was making the point that what she says shows how ideological the cuts are aimed at the humanities and that she is cut from the same cloth as Musk – the fact she actually cried “fake news” is the most ironic thing of all. Throwing a tantrum and accusing a respected news outlet of fake news is incredible
: https://subv3rs3.substack.com/p/cardiff-university-techno-fascism
At best, VC Larner is wrong, and at worst, reactionary. First, epigenetics is how the environment changes the genome. Talking about genetic causes of poverty in the next sentence is literally the opposite process. Second, it doesn’t make any sense for there to be a genetic cause of poverty. There can be a genetic basis for various traits, and even complex behaviours, albeit contingent on the environment. Poverty is neither of those. It is a complex interlocking set of structural circumstances that exist outside of the individual, and thus outside of the individual’s genetic makeup. Third, even if we ignore… Read more »