The Australian
April 11, 1996

RINDOS'S TENURE 'NOT THE FIRST TO BE REFUSED'

Ross Storey

University of Western Australia vice-chancellor 
Fay Gale and American archaeologist Dr David 
Rindos will be summonsed to give evidence at the
April 22 sitting of the West Australian 
parliamentary inquiry in the University's Rindos 
archaeology affair. 

The inquiry first met last Wednesday to hear from 
State Ombudsman Robert Eadie, who proposed to 
discontinue his inquiry  into the affair in favour
of the parliamentary investigation. 

The initial sitting also received a report 
detailing UWA's response to claims by Dr Rindos 
that he had been denied tenure  because he pursued 
complaints by female students of sexual impropriety
and favouritism by former Archaeology Department
head Dr Sandra Bowdler. 

Professor Gale told the HES it was incorrect to 
suggest, as had an article in The Australian 
yesterday, that Dr Rindos was the first academic 
at the university to be refused tenure. 

"Since 1989 23 tenure tracked academics have 
resigned just before the end of their 
probationary period," Professor Gale said. 

"Some of those have resigned to take on better 
jobs but  some of them we know have actually 
resigned because of assessments of unsatisfactory 
performance, knowing that they were likely to be 
denied tenure. 

"There are two currently who have had their 
probationary period extended, like his (Dr Rindos)
was, to try and see if they can improve their 
situation." 

The Parliamentary inquiry will advertise 
nationally this weekend calling for interested 
people to come forward with submissions by May 6. 

The inquiry planned to report to the Western 
Australian Parliament by August but had no idea 
how many witnesses would be called. 

Mr Barry House, MLC, chair of the committee 
conducting the inquiry said no case in recent 
memory had brought the affairs of academe so 
sharply under parliamentary attention.