A retired academic says he lost his emeritus professorship at Plymouth Marjon University after publishing a scholarly critique of critical race theory.
Dr David Harris held the honorary title for over a decade following 37 years of service at the institution – but last September, the university stripped him of the status.
Internal emails obtained through a subject access request reveal senior staff describing his research as “controversial.”
One message from April 2025 stated the vice-chancellor “had made it clear to me that the research he undertakes in the Marjon name is poor quality and often controversial.”
Dr Harris believes these comments relate to his self-published 2024 critique of critical race theory, which argues racism is embedded in every societal structure.
The trouble began in July 2024 when Dr Harris’s university email and library access suddenly stopped working.
The vice-chancellor assured him at the time that this wouldn’t affect his emeritus status.
Then, in March 2025, a library staff member wrongly concluded his title had “lapsed” back in 2015, meaning his access wouldn’t be restored.
Dr Harris lodged a formal complaint, prompting the university to bring in external HR consultants BRHR to investigate.
Dr David Harris says he lost his emeritus professorship at Plymouth Marjon University after publishing a scholarly critique of critical race theory
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Their findings were clear: his emeritus status had never been revoked in 2015, and his “perception of unfair treatment” was “understandable.”
But, in August 2025, Vice-Chancellor Claire Taylor apologised for “some of the communications” uncovered in the subject access request, including the “controversial” research remarks.
However, she said the university would “not enter into further correspondence on the matters.”
When Dr Harris replied to the apology, he criticised a senior administrator for failing to acknowledge the false claim about his title lapsing in 2015.
In response, Professor Taylor told him his correspondence had been “unacceptable” and didn’t align with the “values and standards” expected of those affiliated with the university.
Vice-Chancellor Claire Taylor told Dr David Harris his correspondence had been ‘unacceptable’ and didn’t align with the ‘values and standards’ expected of those affiliated with the university
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PLYMOUTH MARJON UNIVERSITY
She wrote: “I recognise that you may still feel wronged, and it is not our intention to dismiss your feelings.
“However, I must also be clear that the tone and content of your recent communications have not been in line with the values and standards we expect.”
She concluded it was “sensible to draw the University’s relationship with yourself to a conclusion,” formally withdrawing his emeritus professor status.
The Campaign for Academic Freedom (CAF) has now written to Plymouth Marjon University demanding Dr Harris’s title be reinstated.
The group argues the dismissal was “procedurally improper” since bringing the university into disrepute was the only ground for removal under his 2011 appointment terms.
Freddie Attenborough, research manager at CAF, said: “No investigation was conducted, no panel convened, and no recognisable process followed. The vice-chancellor should now remedy this by formally reinstating his emeritus title.”
Dr Harris believes cancel culture has made it “very difficult” for academics to explore controversial topics.
He said: “This has been awful and they really must take research seriously. They must learn to tolerate academics, even if they do disagree and produce controversial research.”
A university spokesman said Plymouth Marjon “is committed to academic freedom, free expression, and fair governance” but does not comment on individual cases.