The co-founder of the now-controversial Safe Schools Coalition, La Trobe academic Roz Ward, has been suspended by her university following a Facebook post in which she called the Australian flag racist, and suggested that it be replaced with the socialist red flag.
New Matilda has reported that La Trobe University’s reasons were as follows. It claims Ward’s conduct had:
a) … Undermined public confidence in the Safe Schools program by undermining public confidence in [her] as a researcher and as a person associated with the Safe Schools program.
b) … Damages the reputation of the Safe Schools program and aligns the Safe Schools program with views which have nothing to do with the program and its message and content.
c) … Has required members of the Victorian Government to take up their time in defending the Safe Schools program, rather than be positive advocates for the Safe Schools program.
d) … Has required senior staff at the University to take up their time in defending the Safe Schools program, rather than be positive advocates for the Safe Schools program or undertake other duties they have.
e) … drawn ([her] colleagues) into the negative publicity around Safe Schools and this has impacted on their ability to continue with their research in a safe environment.
Therefore, the suspension is linked to the fact that Ward’s Facebook post was likely to inflame the controversy which was already surrounding the Safe Schools program. Ward’s post has certainly done so, particularly in News Corp outlets. It also prompted Jeff Kennett, chairman of Beyond Blue, to threaten to withdraw Safe Schools funding unless Ward stepped down from the program.
La Trobe’s actions are very troubling for academics. First, Ward was expressing a legitimate political opinion in her post. People are entitled to criticise the political symbol that is the Australian flag. The “racist” tag is attached by some for the same reason that many liken Australia Day with Invasion Day. Last time I checked it was not unlawful to be a Marxist in this country.
The actual context for the post was that the rainbow flag had been hoisted over the Victorian State Parliament on the day of Premier Daniel Andrews' apologies for past laws regarding homosexuality. Ward apparently posted a picture of that flag and said:
Now we just need to get rid of the racist Australian flag on top of state parliament and get a red one up there and my work is done.
The last words in particular seem to denote some sort of tongue in cheek, indicating that Ward may have been disciplined over a joke........
https://theconversation.com/academic-freedom-and-the-suspension-of-roz-ward-60375