The University of Exeter faces mounting backlash over a proposal to scrap dozens of humanities posts, drawing prominent academics and public figures into a campaign to reverse expected redundancies. The university’s plan is expected to disproportionately affect jobs in arts and social sciences, prompting a petition with more than 21,000 signatures. Organizers say the cuts mirror broader sector pressure on humanities disciplines. The campaign could affect how Exeter navigates faculty consultation, workforce planning, and reputational risk as it weighs budget outcomes against academic mission commitments.