Author Neil Gaiman backs petition to save University of Portsmouth English literature lecturer jobs

The university has proposed to cut the number of full-time positions in the department from 12 to five. The announcement led to students holding a demonstration in Guildhall Square and to set up an online petition which they hope will force the university to reconsider its stance.

The quest to ‘save the English Literature Department’ has now received the backing of Neil Gaiman, who grew up in Portchester.

Neil, who has a street in Southsea named after one of his novels – The Ocean At The End Of The Lane on the seafront – tweeted: ‘I just saw that Portsmouth University is about to cut its English Literature department. I wonder if you or your followers would like to show the university that English literature really does have value in the modern world.’

Following the tweet, the author included a link to the petition web page which has now attracted the support of more than 10,800 people.

Campaign group spokeswoman, Amy Thomson, 21, said: ‘It’s fantastic to have the backing of such an acclaimed author. He’s already tweeted the message three times and on each occasion we have seen a real rise in the number of people signing the petition.

‘Having his support really highlights the importance of English literature as a subject.’

The proposed cuts have left students concerned over potential restrictions in their module choices and a lack of expert support for certain topics.

Speaking at the time of the protest, student Jasmine Lallis, 19, said: ‘We’ve just taken our module options but we are expecting some of these not to run as the specialists won’t be here. The atmosphere on the course is terrible. It’s making some people physically sick.’

With the university and staff currently in a consultation period over the cuts, students have asked to meet the vice-chancellor, professor Graham Galbraith, to submit the petition.

The email to Prof Galbraith stated: ‘I would like to request a meeting with you to formally present our petition to save the English Literature Department from drastic cuts.

‘This petition has now surpassed 10,000 signatures and continues to climb. Myself (Amy Thomson) and a deputation of under-graduates and postgraduates would like to meet with you and the deputy vice-chancellor, Paul Hayes, in person to present both the signatures and the comments on the petition.’

Students are now awaiting a response.

To support the petition go to http://www.change.org/p/vice-chancellor-professor-graham-galbraith-save-university-of-portsmouth-english-literature-department