BY JEREMY SMITH
The campaign by the National Tertiary Education Union to defend sacked University of Wollongong academic Ted Steele went to the Federal Court on July 5. The union claims the dismissal breaches the university's enterprise agreement; the judge has reserved his decision.
The university's vice-chancellor summarily dismissed Steele on February 26 after Steele told the Sydney Morning Herald that he had been instructed to alter honours marks for students who bring income into the university.
When he refused to retract the allegations, Steele was sacked on the spot, with no committee discussion of the allegations against him.
Wollongong university's newly-minted enterprise agreement outlines procedures for dismissal on the grounds of serious misconduct. The NTEU alleges that the vice-chancellor's actions breached this agreement, and that they constitute an attack on intellectual freedom.
NTEU president Carolyn Allport said that the case has wide ramifications, "Firstly, we must defend the enterprise agreements that our members negotiate with management. If vice-chancellors choose to ignore their provisions, it throws into question the whole process.
"Secondly, we must protect our members from summary dismissal. That is essential if we are to preserve intellectual freedom in universities. People will not speak out if they fear instant dismissal for voicing unpopular opinions."
Ted Steele has received considerable support. A 5000-strong online petition protesting his sacking has been presented to Wollongong University Council.
Letters condemning the university have arrived from Canada, Britain, Ireland and New Zealand. The British Association of University Staff has asked its members to avoid all contact with the University of Wollongong.