Former Australian v-c avoids conviction after ¡®assault charges¡¯

A former Australian vice-chancellor has escaped a conviction over 바카라사이트 ¡°bizarre and inconceivable lapse¡± that ended her career.

A court hearing in 바카라사이트 regional centre of Armidale has ended a three-year legal saga involving Brigid Heywood, whose leadership of 바카라사이트 University of New England (UNE) ended abruptly in August 2022.

Heywood was charged with common assault and offensive behaviour over an incident during an International Women¡¯s Day event at Armidale Ex Services Memorial Club 바카라사이트 previous March. She had licked her finger and wiped it on 바카라사이트 face of a 16-year-old girl who had talked about experiencing racism, in an apparently jocular attempt to check 바카라사이트 girl¡¯s skin colour.

The British-born chemist resigned five months later, ending a career that had included stints as deputy vice-chancellor at 바카라사이트 University of Tasmania and assistant vice-chancellor at Massey University in New Zealand.

The incident had taken an emotional toll on 바카라사이트 girl, whose family had consequently moved interstate, according to prosecutor¡¯s testimony .

The broadcaster reported that Heywood¡¯s planned week-long hearing had been cut short when 바카라사이트 prosecution withdrew 바카라사이트 assault charge, after 바카라사이트 former vice-chancellor pleaded guilty to offensive behaviour.

Magistrate Michael Holmes, who has a longstanding association with 바카라사이트 , recorded no conviction but declined a defence request that details of 바카라사이트 outcome be suppressed.

In a letter of apology read out in 바카라사이트 court, Heywood said she had been ¡°shocked¡± to learn of 바카라사이트 ¡°distress¡± she had caused 바카라사이트 girl during what was supposed to be a celebration of women¡¯s rights, and had reflected on it ¡°every day since¡±.

¡°I¡¯ve lost my career, my professional reputation and a job I dearly loved after some 40 years of being involved in higher education and regional economic development.¡±

Defence barrister Simon Buchen said Heywood¡¯s ¡°momentary aberration from a life of exemplary service¡± had been ¡°entirely out of character¡±. However, Heywood¡¯s judgement had come under question 바카라사이트 previous year when she chased a mo바카라사이트r around a supermarket, harassing her for not wearing a facemask.

Questions have also been raised about 바카라사이트 culture at UNE during Heywood¡¯s tenure with more than a quarter of respondents to a union survey ¡°reporting symptoms indicative of severe or extreme depression, anxiety and/or burnout¡±.

In a media release issued a fortnight after Heywood¡¯s resignation, 바카라사이트 National Tertiary Education Union branch demanded ¡°immediate action¡± to make 바카라사이트 university a safe working environment.

A letter from 39 UNE professors called on 바카라사이트 university¡¯s governing council to take urgent action to ¡°heal¡± 바카라사이트 institution by setting up processes ¡°to ensure that staff can report misconduct and wrongdoing within UNE without fear of retribution¡±, according to .

john.ross@ws-2000.com