Missing: Politics Professor

Politics students are being kept in the dark as to the whereabouts of one of the department’s key professors, who has been absent this term due to her involvement in a court case in the US concerning property.

Professor Alison Drew is the course convenor for Historical Sociology, a second-year 30 credit module and South African Politics, a third-year 40 credit module, making her role in the politics department among the most crucial.

Politics students were told that professor Alison Drew would be absent for a couple of weeks at most. Despite this she has been away for the entire duration of this term. “At first we were told she would be back within two weeks and then we were told she would only be back in time to give one lecture.” says one of her students.

Another politics student told a similar tale, “I’ve only really been told that she’s being held up at home and shouldn’t be too long.”

As a result of her absence the course outline for Historical Sociology has been altered. “Our seminar schedule has been changed around in the hope that Mrs. Drew will be back to lecture on feminism however it seems pretty fruitless to me given that her return seems so unsure” replied one Historical Sociology student after being questioned on the issue.

Fortunately, an old Historical Sociology course convenor has been able to take over her lectures while professor Alex-Bavister Gould has had to take over both seminar groups.

Her absence has been bitter sweet for some Historical Sociology students, “It is an inconvenience to not be taught by [the tutor] we are supposed to [be taught by], especially when they are the module convenor” commented one student.

The South African Politics module, probably the most important module given that it comes at such a crucial time for the third years, has also been affected by her absence.

In week two the third-years missed a lecture and an hour and a half long seminar. In week three they were given an organisational seminar that lasted no longer than ten minutes. In week four they were given their first analytical seminar. However, it was convened by a retired part-time economics lecturer whose only experience on the subject stemmed from temporarily living in Botswana.

“It is highly disruptive to your studies, especially in such a crucial final teaching term, to have such poor quality teaching and a lack of scheduled contact hours.

The department failed to communicate properly with students and the quality of the initial replacement teaching was seriously inadequate.” claimed one third year politics student.

After receiving complaints from students the politics department were commendably able to make the necessary changes to smooth over the disruptions of Drew’s absence. However, these changes only took place half-way through the term.

There has been a notable lack of clarity throughout the ordeal with students receiving unclear and uncertain information. This is reflected in the different explanations given to students by members of staff and the lack of official notification on behalf of the Politics Department.

“It’s been a bit frustrating really,” said one student, “I was told by one member of staff that she was away because she was ill and then I was told by another member of staff she was away because she was caught up in a court case. I was told she would be back shortly, then I was told she would be back in time to give one lecture this term and now I am being told no one is sure when she will be back!”

Head of the Politics Department Matthew Festenstein told Vision that he couldn’t comment “on any individual student or member of staff’s personal circumstances.”

“The Department has worked hard to minimise impact on students, but of course we’re sorry if any student has felt inconvenienced. All the students affected have been contacted by Dr Jon Parkin, our Chair of the Board of Studies, or by me. Any student who still has concerns is welcome to contact me.”