Strange goings on at Strawberry Hill

St Mary's University College, Twickenham, often still known by the delightful name of its more specific location of Strawberry Hill, but nowadays more often by its ugly new acronym SMUC, took the decision over the summer holidays to merge the School of Theology, Philosophy and History and the School of Communication, Culture and Creative Arts into a new School of Arts and Humanities. This rather left Anthony Towey, the head of Theology, Philosophy and History in limbo and I was wondering how things might develop.

EF Pastor Emeritus wrote this morning of the astonishing news that Dr Towey was escorted off the premises by security in the middle of a lecture he was giving on Christology. (I wonder if he had got as far as the Latrocinium?) This news has now also been published by ICN. There is a meeting of the College's Board of Governors on Thursday.

Meanwhile the undergraduate degree in hypnosis has recently been judged inadequate by the QAA and the college has offered to give the budding hypnotists their money back. Alternative courses still include an ITEC in Aromatherapy or Reflexology but the Holistic Indian Head Massage seems to have been discontinued.

UPDATE:
18 September 2012. 12:52
A spokesperson for the University College said today:

We can confirm that Dr Anthony Towey, Head of the School of Theology, Philosophy and History, was suspended yesterday (17th September 2012) pending investigations into a very serious disciplinary matter and a grave breach of his professional duties at the University College.

This action was taken fully in accordance with our internal human resource procedures and with written, external legal advice. Arrangements are being put in place to ensure that all programmes and teaching will be fully covered.

For further information please contact Rob Marshall on 07766 952 113 or smuc@media33.co.uk

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