{"id":3509,"date":"2026-04-14T06:05:16","date_gmt":"2026-04-14T05:05:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/21percent.org\/?p=3509"},"modified":"2026-04-14T11:16:53","modified_gmt":"2026-04-14T10:16:53","slug":"towards-the-iceberg","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/21percent.org\/?p=3509","title":{"rendered":"Towards the Iceberg"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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In the case of Dr Oliveira<\/a>, the 21 Group awaits the outcome of the Disciplinary Hearing against him held on 13 April 2026.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After being mistreated in the School of Physical Sciences, Dr Oliveira refused to be silent. The University of Cambridge are now arguing that Dr Oliveira is being “unreasonably persistent<\/em>“. Yet history reminds us that those involved in the Post Office scandal were once dismissed in similar terms \u2014 only to be later completely vindicated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Having looked at the evidence, the 21 Group believes Dr Oliveira — like the sub postmasters — has a very strong case.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We reproduce below a letter sent on 5 July 2025 by Professor Wyn Evans to the Pro-Vice-Chancellors and Vice-Chancellor, Professor Deborah Prentice<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Dear Pro-Vice Chancellors, Vice Chancellor,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The way the Human Resources Division is being mismanaged in Cambridge University is producing a very large number of victims. Unsurprisingly, the victims are not going to shut up and go away, no matter how much you may wish it<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is of course far better to resolve these matters internally and fairly. If there is no redress internally, then of course victims will pursue the matters externally, leading to much greater costs, stress, publicity & reputational damage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In Dr Oliveira’s case, he wishes to raise a Grievance against [REDACTED], an HR Business Partner. This is being blocked. As a matter of justice, law and ethics, his Grievance should at least be heard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I, and 3 other colleagues, have repeatedly tried to raise a Grievance against the same individual, but it has also repeatedly been blocked for spurious and untrue reasons.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Malpractice among some members of the HR department is now seriously harming the University’s core mission of teaching and research. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This should be a matter of gravest concern to all the pro-Vice Chancellors \u2014 and the Vice Chancellor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Best Wishes<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Prof Wyn Evans<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

After the Simon Goldhill Affair<\/a>, another major controversy \u2014 this time involving the handling of Dr Oliveira\u2019s case \u2014 is the last thing the University of Cambridge needs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The 21 Group is also aware of a number of forthcoming Employment Tribunal cases, which are not likely to present a very reassuring picture of the University. One is starting next week at Bury St Edmunds Tribunal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Perhaps it is time for the Vice-Chancellor and Pro-Vice-Chancellors to reconsider their course — instead of accelerating further on a trajectory towards icebergs?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

(Image Credit: Photo is of the iceberg which was probably rammed by the RMS Titanic. Photo was made by Stephan Rehorek, who died in 1935)<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

In the case of Dr Oliveira, the 21 Group awaits the outcome of the Disciplinary Hearing against him held on 13 April 2026. After being mistreated in the School of Physical Sciences, Dr Oliveira refused to be silent. The University of Cambridge are now arguing that Dr Oliveira is being […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"_uf_show_specific_survey":0,"_uf_disable_surveys":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3509","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-blog"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/21percent.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3509","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/21percent.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/21percent.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/21percent.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/21percent.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=3509"}],"version-history":[{"count":16,"href":"https:\/\/21percent.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3509\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3526,"href":"https:\/\/21percent.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3509\/revisions\/3526"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/21percent.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=3509"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/21percent.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=3509"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/21percent.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=3509"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}