The Australian: Higher Education Supplement. 
5 August 1992]

Entire article set in bold-face

[Picture at top of Professor Gale]

VC ASKED TO EXPLAIN COMPLAINTS
By Joe Poprzeczny

    The University of Western Australia's Senate has
instructed its vice-chancellor, Professor Fay Gale, to
provide it with a statement outlining events that have
prompted several student complaints about the now suspended
archeology department.

    Although the issue has been shrouded in secrecy for the
past six months,  it was debated during a closed session of
the Senate last week after the Senate reached an item
dealing with a complaint from a Meeketherra archaeologist
and former UWA student, Mr Joe Mattner.

    Mr Mattner wrote to all senators last month and his
letter is one of several student letters received.

    A report commissioned by Professor Gale in February
into the archaeology department has so far not reached the
senate.  That report, prepared by the dean of law,
Professor Stan Hotop, and former deputy vice-chancellor
(academic) Professor Dough Clyde, came after a routine
review of the department last year. 

    The report raised complaints relating to management
problems, equity issues, and what are interpersonal
relationships, which Professor Gale said "were damaging the
objectivity of the department."  She then suspended the
archaeology department and most of its staff were moved
into the anthropology department.

    "The vice-chancellor has repeatedly sought to cover up,
by portraying the problems in the department as resulting
from 'interpersonal relationships' between staff members. 
This seriously misrepresents the findings of the review
committee," Mr Mattner's letter said.

    "Suspension of the department and its transfer to the
anthropology department means there might be no further
scrutiny of the issue."