Sunday Times (Perth), 26 February 1995

[COMMENT: The page is dominated by a centrally placed
picture of a serious looking Dave Rindos.
    Beneath, it reads: "Dr David Rindos -- the State 
Governor will hear his case."
    A black side bar in the middle of the article reads:
"I'm happy my case will be heard by Governor"]

GOVERNOR TO BE DRAWN INTO UWA SACKING ROW

The Governor is to be drawn into the controversial sacking
of an internationally-acclaimed academic after the
Industrial Commission found this week that it could not
rule on the dismissal.  Joe Poprzeczny, who broke the
story, reports.

The first word of a bitter academic row that caught the
attention of archaeologists worldwide, surfaced with a
leaked report sent to the Sunday Times in March 1992.

The report summarised the findings of a committee that had
reviewed the University of WA's archaeology department.

The committee received allegations of students being
subjected to public ridicule and inequitable behavior and
it called on the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Fay Gale, to
investigate and act on them.

A year later, a letter to senior university administrators,
written by Associate Professor Neville Bruce, complained
that the committee's recommendations had not been fully
adopted.

Following the departmental review the professor of
archaeology, Sandra Bowdler, faced a personal UWA inquiry
conducted by a law professor and former deputy
vice-chancellor.

Professor Gale has refused to release their findings.

But a confidential memo obtained by the Sunday Times, from
Professor Bruce to Professor Gale, alleged several students
had had sexual relations with a member of staff and that
this will followed by favored treatment.

Professor Bowdler received a please-explain letter. After
obtaining legal advice from a Melbourne lawyer, Professor
Bowdler's department was merged into the anthropology
department.

Before the two departments were merged, American
archaeologist Dr David Rindos and several of his students
asked to be moved from Professor Bowdler's department. 
Their requests were granted.

A year later Dr Rindos was forced to return to the
Department, an event which led Professor Bruce to complain
about Dr Rindos' treatment. 

When the dust settled, UWA academics were shocked to find
Professor Gale had sacked Dr Rindos.

This decision was so controversial that Professor Gale
wrote to all academics outlining her reasons. 

She claimed Dr Rindos had not had enough of his work
published and that he could not get along with Professor
Bowdler. 

Commissioner George, who heard the case last May, handed
down the decision this week.  He said: "The Visitor has a
general jurisdiction over all matters of dispute relating
to the internal affairs and management of the University
and allegations of wrongful dismissal and requests for
reinstatement fall within those matters of dispute."

UWA's visitor is the Governor, Major-General Michael
Jeffery. 

Sources said top campus administrators and senior members
of UWA's senate were delighted with the decision.

Dr Rindos said: "I'm happy that after being tied up with
procedural matters since late 1993 my case will finally be
heard by the Governor who can look at the whole ranges of
problems surrounding archaeology at UWA. 

"I will take up UWA's invitation made before the Commission
and present my case to the Visitor."