Friday, 19 April 2013

The University of Western Australia will take action against the editors of the PROSH student newspaper over an article this week that mocked Indigenous people and caused widespread community offence.

UWA Vice-Chancellor Professor Paul Johnson said the article ‘DREAM TIME HOROSCOPES’ clearly breached acceptable community standards.

“I want to make it clear there is no room at the University – or in society generally – for racist, offensive or insensitive attitudes,” Professor Johnson said.

“The article breaches the requirements of the University’s policies and protocols, including the Student Charter of Rights and Responsibilities and the Code of Ethics and Code of Conduct.”

“I am considering what action to take against those responsible for publishing it.”

Professor Johnson said he welcomed today’s UWA Student Guild announcement of plans to exercise stronger editorial direction over publication of PROSH.

This will include an independent review of Guild editorial policies and procedures.

“I fully support PROSH as an important annual charity fund-raiser but it must meet acceptable community standards,” Professor Johnson said.

“The University will work with the Guild to ensure more robust editorial procedures are in place so that an incident like this cannot happen again.”

The UWA Student Guild issued a public apology earlier today for the distress caused by the PROSH article.

Guild President Cameron Barnes said the Guild was working with members of the Western Australian Student Aboriginal Corporation at UWA to look at how to remedy the situation and ensure it did not happen again.

“This includes changing policies and guidelines on what can be included in PROSH and how it is approved,” Mr Barnes said.

“We have received a number of complaints and will be apologising to each of the people who have complained to us about the article individually.

“It is a real shame that something so inappropriate detracts from the core efforts of the event, which is to raise money for local charities and good causes.”

Media references

Michael Sinclair-Jones (UWA Public Affairs)  (+61 8) 6488 3229  /  (+61 4) 00 700 783

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