Macquarie University is preparing to dismantle two foundational disciplines: Sociology and Politics. Under the current proposal, Sociology will no longer be offered as a major in the Bachelor of Arts, and 11 of the department’s 14 academics — including long-time colleagues I’ve known since my PhD days — are facing redundancy. These are some of the most brilliant, dedicated, and compassionate educators I’ve ever known. Despite ongoing funding cuts and relentless pressure from senior management, they’ve continued to build rigorous, thought-provoking curricula that have empowered countless students. Politics is also set to be scrapped entirely. Yes, in 2025, Macquarie University plans to shut down Politics — a staggering move in any context, but especially now. Among those affected is Dr Jumana Bayeh, the only Arab woman teaching Middle East politics in a politics department in Australia as far as I know. The cuts don’t stop there. Macquarie’s world-renowned Ancient History department is facing a 50% staff reduction. Media Studies and Creative Arts will also be severely hit — areas where some of the most forward-thinking and creative academic work is being done. This isn’t just an administrative shake-up. It’s an attack on disciplines that challenge, critique, and expose systems of power — fields that encourage students to think critically about the world around them. That’s no coincidence. So where do 11 highly qualified sociologists go in a country where universities are making similar cuts across the board? And what happens to the students who still want to study Sociology or Politics — who want to understand society and participate in shaping it? We are fighting this with everything we have. But we only have three weeks. If you care about education, about critical thinking, about justice — please help us. Write to your local MP. Contact Macquarie University. Now is the time to act.