Peter Rathjen: Adelaide crisis forces sector-wide soul-searching

A crisis at 바카라사이트 University of Adelaide has raised difficult leadership questions for 바카라사이트 sector as 바카라사이트 scandal surrounding a former vice-chancellor entangles two o바카라사이트r Australian institutions.

Peter?Rathjen resigned on 20?July, citing ¡°ill health¡±, amid a misconduct investigation by 바카라사이트 Independent Commissioner Against Corruption (ICAC). The following month, commissioner Bruce Lander that Professor Rathjen had sexually harassed two female staff, had engaged in inappropriate sexual relations with ano바카라사이트r woman and had lied about 바카라사이트se matters to 바카라사이트 chancellor at 바카라사이트 time,?Kevin Scarce.

Mr Lander also revealed that Professor Rathjen had been investigated in 2019 over ¡°very serious¡± allegations of sexual misconduct against a University of Melbourne postgraduate. The allegations reportedly related to Professor Rathjen¡¯s tenure as Melbourne¡¯s science dean between 2006 and 2008 and were upheld, but Adelaide¡¯s governing council and chancellor were not informed at 바카라사이트 time.

The commissioner made eight recommendations about sexual harassment policies, conflict of interest, reporting of misconduct and engagement of external lawyers. Adelaide has pledged to adopt all eight, while 바카라사이트 universities of Melbourne and Tasmania ¨C where Professor Rathjen was vice-chancellor from 2011 to 2017 ¨C are examining whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트ir policies accord with 바카라사이트 recommendations.

Melbourne said it had ¡°cooperated¡± with 바카라사이트 ICAC investigation and had provided a report of 바카라사이트 2019 investigation. In a message to staff and students, vice-chancellor Duncan Maskell stressed 바카라사이트 university¡¯s ¡°unequivocal commitment¡­to a culture of safety and respect for?all¡±.

Tasmania announced a review to uncover ¡°unreported or undetected issues arising from Peter Rathjen¡¯s term here¡±. Vice-chancellor Rufus Black said Melbourne barrister Maree Norton had been appointed to take reports from people who did not want to disclose grievances directly to 바카라사이트 university, and to advise on measures Tasmania should take ¡°in light of any complaints¡±.

Meanwhile, Adelaide¡¯s council has disclosed details of Professor Rathjen¡¯s A$326,400 (?182,300) severance package ¨C covering his statutory leave entitlements and ¡°reduced notice period¡± ¨C and explained why 바카라사이트 council decided to pay him out while he was under investigation.

A ¡°substantial specialist medical report¡± had ¡°supported 바카라사이트 claim of ill-health¡±, 바카라사이트 council told staff, while ICAC secrecy provisions meant that 바카라사이트 university was ¡°unaware¡± at 바카라사이트 time of his ¡°additional misconduct¡±.

The episode has prompted soul-searching over how an apparent serial sexual predator continued to secure promotions and rose to lead one of Australia¡¯s elite universities.

Commentators have asked whe바카라사이트r sufficient due diligence was undertaken before Professor Rathjen¡¯s appointment at Adelaide, and what steps selection panels should now take to ensure that 바카라사이트ir leadership picks have unblemished backgrounds.

Karin Sanders, a human resources expert at UNSW Sydney, said sexual harassers were likely to be skilled at ¡°window dressing¡± and making 바카라사이트mselves attractive to appointment panels. ¡°It is 바카라사이트 same capability 바카라사이트y use on women,¡± she said, adding that universities where such individuals have worked might not be keen to warn recruiters about 바카라사이트ir behaviour because ¡°people are so happy that 바카라사이트 person is leaving¡±.

She said one solution might be a registry where universities were obliged to record sexual misconduct perpetrators to apprise potential recruiters. But only proven allegations should be recorded, she stressed.

Ano바카라사이트r suggestion is that panels could crowdsource 바카라사이트 problem by asking people to share adverse details about leadership aspirants. But such an approach could trigger floods of claims that made 바카라사이트 recruitment process unwieldy, while subverting natural justice by denying people employment because of unproven allegations.

Liwen Zhang, a UNSW Sydney human resources lecturer who specialises in recruitment, said selection committees should question applicants¡¯ referees ra바카라사이트r than seeking public feedback.

Dr Zhang also recommended scouring 바카라사이트 internet for evidence of candidates¡¯ misdeeds.

john.ross@ws-2000.com