Criticise and pay the price.

The Times Higher this week paints a somewhat disturbing picture relating to the dismissal of the Director of Research and Evaluation in the UK's Higher Education Academy. If the story is correct, it implies that Lee Harvey was sacked (by the Chief Executive, Paul Ramsden) after publishing a letter critical of the National Student Survey. There's been a huge response to this news as can be seen on the comments section of the website, with many academics expressing their shock at the scenario as depicted. Critical Thinking, or at least critical comment, seems a risky business in HE these days.