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<P class=wallacepara><SPAN class=671215203-15062007><FONT size=3>People are
probably aware of the issues at QUT at present: here is a quick summary and
update: </FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=wallacepara><FONT size=3>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. </FONT></P>
<P class=wallacepara><FONT size=3>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 <EM>The
Australian</EM> on April 11.</FONT></P>
<P class=wallacepara><FONT size=3>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.</FONT></P>
<P><FONT size=3>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.</FONT></P>
<P><A
href="http://www.abc.net.au/news/opinion/items/200706/s1952125.htm"><U><FONT
color=#0000ff><FONT
size=3>http://www.abc.net.au/news/opinion/items/200706/s1952125.htm</FONT></U></FONT></A></P>
<P><SPAN class=671215203-15062007><FONT size=3>I have posted the following
comment on the ABC site: </FONT></SPAN></P><SPAN class=671215203-15062007>
<DIV><FONT size=3>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. <BR>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. <BR>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. <BR>I would hope that my employing university respects my academic
freedom to speak out about disability issues. <BR>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
<BR></FONT></SPAN><FONT face="Comic Sans MS" color=#800080
size=4><EM>Meg</EM></FONT></DIV></DIV>
<DIV align=left>
<DIV align=left><FONT face="Comic Sans MS" color=#008000 size=2><EM>Associate
Professor Meg Smith </EM></FONT></DIV>
<DIV align=left><FONT face="Comic Sans MS" color=#008000 size=2><EM>School of
Social Sciences </EM></FONT></DIV>
<DIV align=left><FONT face="Comic Sans MS" color=#008000 size=2><EM>Bankstown
campus </EM></FONT></DIV>
<DIV align=left><EM><FONT face="Comic Sans MS" color=#008000 size=2>ph 61
2 9772 6299 mobile 0431072943</FONT></EM></DIV>
<DIV align=left><FONT face="Comic Sans MS" color=#008000 size=2><EM>University
of Western Sydney </EM></FONT></DIV>
<DIV align=left><FONT face="Comic Sans MS" color=#008000 size=2><EM>Locked Bag
1797 Penrith South DC 1797 </EM></FONT></DIV>
<DIV align=left><FONT face="Comic Sans MS" color=#008000 size=2><EM>President
Mental Health Association NSW</EM></FONT></DIV>
<DIV align=left><EM><FONT face="Comic Sans MS" color=#008000
size=2>www.mentalhealth.asn.au</FONT></EM></DIV>
<DIV align=left><FONT face="Comic Sans MS" color=#008000
size=2><EM></EM></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV align=left><FONT face="Comic Sans MS" color=#008000
size=2><EM></EM></FONT> </DIV><FONT size=3></FONT></DIV>
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