[Commpsych] QUT and academic freedom issues

[Meg Smith]

People are probably aware of the issues at QUT at present: here is a
quick summary and update: 

On June 8 two QUT senior TV and film academics Drs Gary Maclennan and
John Hookham were found guilty of misconduct and given six months
immediate suspension without pay. 

Dr Maclennan has been at QUT (previously QIT) for 32 years. They
criticised a PhD candidate's footage about two disabled men at his
confirmation in March and then wrote a joint article in The Australian
on April 11.

They also criticised the supervising academics and the ethical clearance
process for not engaging the disability community first. Dr Maclennan
has since unreservedly apologised to the PhD candidate.

there is an interesting opinion piece on the ABC today- link below in
case you want to add comments. It looks as though the QUT version of a
Code of Conduct is being used to impose a very harsh penalty, and thus
they try to side step the issue of academic freedom.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/opinion/items/200706/s1952125.htm
<http://www.abc.net.au/news/opinion/items/200706/s1952125.htm> 

I have posted the following comment on the ABC site: 

I have grave concerns about the way in which Dr MacLennan and Dr Hookham
have been punished by their employer QUT. As an academic of over 30
years and someone who has personal experience of disability and some
expertise in the disability area , I could easily have responded to the
situation in a similar way to Drs MacLennan and Dr Hookham. 
I have a disability and have been put into situations in the past by
media personnel where all I can say about my disability is how crazy I
was when I was ill. I am fortunately in the position now where I can
decide how I am going to be portrayed and refuse to participate if I
judge that the  material  I give is going to be exploited or that my
character is going to suffer. But when I was much younger I was
persuaded to do a number of television and radio interviews over which I
had no control and was too naive to understand what the implications of
my appearance would be in terms of the way people with intellectual
disability or mental illness are depicted. Like many young people I was
overawed by the power of the media and did not realise that electronic
media can last and be shown in many situations I would never have
consented to and to audiences who would not understand the context in
which the original material was made. I feel very sorry for the young
people and the indigenous woman who were depicted in the film that was
the cause of the current incident at QUT. Whatever the outcome of this
sorry saga, they have now been depicted in a way that appears to be
degrading and stigmatising. 
I have had occasion to withdraw myself from research projects being
conducted at my own university because I disagreed with the ideology and
ethics of the project. One of these projects was a doctoral project. And
yes, I have discussed publicly in community seminars and university
lectures the issues in researching and working with people who have a
disability, young people and people from indigenous and culturally
diverse backgrounds. 
I would hope that my employing university respects my academic freedom
to speak out about disability issues. 
I am presenting as a "living book" at the University of Western Sydney
on Wednesday 25th July.I hope that I have the academic freedom to
discuss these issues on that occasion 
Meg
Associate Professor Meg Smith 
School of Social Sciences 
Bankstown campus 
ph  61 2 9772 6299  mobile 0431072943
University of Western Sydney 
Locked Bag 1797 Penrith South DC 1797 
President Mental Health Association NSW
www.mentalhealth.asn.au
 
 

 

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