Renowned percussionist Evelyn Glennie has told reporters she plans to return the honorary doctorate she was awarded by the University Of Exeter over the college's decision to close its music department - a decision due to get the formal go ahead at a meeting of the University's full council on 20 Dec.
The two-time Grammy Award winner says she is "absolutely horrified" at the University Of Exeter's decision, adding: "We have all worked extremely hard to ensure that the government puts a budget forward for music education at primary school level. However, if they are now allowing a leading higher education establishment such as Exeter University to shut down its respected music department, then we are denying a large amount of talented individuals their right to a higher education."
Confirming the plans to close the music department the University's Vice-Chancellor, Professor Steve Smith, told reporters: "We have some tough decisions to make, but I believe they must be made if Exeter is to continue to be a leading research university. The higher education marketplace has changed massively in the last year and we cannot just carry on doing the same things we have always done."
Nobel Prize-winning chemist Professor Sir Harry Kroto has also threatened to return his honorary degree over similar plans to close Exeter University's chemistry department.