Students of Mac U's Law Professor, Andrew Fraser (1 Viewer)

[Sasky]

http://smh.com.au/news/national/imm...re-teaching-ban/2005/08/01/1122748557250.html

"A law professor banned from a Sydney university over his controversial comments about immigration says he will turn up to teach classes this afternoon, defying a ban by his employer."

Did he end up turning up???

 

[Xayma]

I see no reason why he should be fired or why people are celebrating his suspension.

Taking it to the media was a little far, but I believe that he should have as much of an opportunity as anyone else to voice his opinion (it's a pity that ACA and Today Tonight seem to think that it deserves that much time).

I don't agree with him, just as I didn't agree with the American Professor who said that the victims of September 11 were pretty much asking for it (although he was on Tenure, whereas I doubt Professor Fraser is, I'm not sure if it even exists in Australia).

 

[Not-That-Bright]

I'm conflicted... on the one hand freedom of speech is good.
On the other, due to his position of power I'm not sure if freedom of speech should apply to him in the same way... much as I don't believe teachers should have the freedom to talk about any issues they want with their students.

 

[Rorix]

If only he hated Americans like the good ol' crazy left wingers. You can tell this bloke's career isn't going too far, he's on the wrong side of politics!

 

[Xayma]

I'm conflicted... on the one hand freedom of speech is good.
On the other, due to his position of power I'm not sure if freedom of speech should apply to him in the same way... much as I don't believe teachers should have the freedom to talk about any issues they want with their students.

He wrote to the local newspaper. He wasn't presenting these ideas in class.

It was a letters to the editors piece, one which people shound understand are opinions, not like children listening to a teacher in class.

 

[Iron]

I think his accent created sustained interest. It sounded like an academic 3rd party assesment rather than the red-neck Pauline stuff we've been immunised against.

 

[xeuyrawp]

Did he end up turning up???

I'd like to know that, too. I was planning on standing in on the class, but I was working.

 

[= Jennifer =]

yeah he did turn up they said it on the news tonight

 

[Not-That-Bright]

The university is setting a dangerous precident... I imagine the views of many lecturers wouldn't sit well with the community at large.

 

[Not-That-Bright]

I understand the controversial thing... But it's not like lecturers only make out-there comments about their field of study...

 

[Meldrum]

NTB's right.

Look at Costello, he speaks out about Christian values when he's clearly not a Christian.

 

[xeuyrawp]

Wow, the newspapers were very wrong, as per usual (remember "MILAT WAS NOT ALONE").

Although he was barred from having his lecture in a theatre, he conducted one on the grass somewhere, which my friend attended. He didn't just sit in his office all day. My friend got the vibe that he didn't whole-heartedly believe what he was saying (and still argues), but rather is stirring up the pot to not only be controversial, but also to make people think.

Yerbury still hopes he will resign, but he's clearly not going to. Apparently, the students who took his unit are fucked in that they not only need his subject to continue, but need it for their degree, and they can't "back up" so to speak and do constitutional law rather than the public variant. They're just not going to renew his contract, I doubt they'll fire him.