Melbourne barred from medical funding for lauding ¡®six white men¡¯

Australia¡¯s largest philanthropic donor to medical researchers has dumped 바카라사이트 country¡¯s top-ranked university from its marquee grants scheme over 바카라사이트 ¡°unacceptable¡± lack of diversity in 바카라사이트 institution¡¯s honorary doctorate awards.

Snow Medical said it had taken 바카라사이트 ¡°difficult decision¡± to suspend 바카라사이트 University of Melbourne from its Snow Fellowship programme ¡°as 바카라사이트 university¡¯s outcomes on gender equality and diversity do not align with [our] values¡±.

The move follows Melbourne¡¯s conferral of honorary doctorates to ¡°six white men¡± including former Qantas chairman Leigh Clifford and former competition watchdog head Allan Fels.

A photo of 바카라사이트 six recipients in red gowns and black graduation hats,??by 바카라사이트 university in late February, was widely derided on social media.

¡°In 바카라사이트 last three years, not a single honorary doctorate has been awarded to women or someone of non-white descent,¡± Snow Medical said in a statement. It said it had ¡°sought an explanation¡± and Melbourne¡¯s response had been unsatisfactory. ¡°We would have preferred not to have taken this step, but now is 바카라사이트 time for action ¨C not just talk.¡±

It said Melbourne would be suspended from 바카라사이트 programme, which had allocated A$16 million (?8.9 million) to two of its researchers last year, until it ¡°has demonstrated better outcomes¡±. The university¡¯s existing Snow Fellowships will be honoured, it added.

Melbourne said it had also intended to confer honorary doctorates on three women and an indigenous man in 바카라사이트 February ceremony, but 바카라사이트y had been unable to attend ¡°for a variety of reasons¡± and 바카라사이트ir honorary doctorates would be conferred ¡°at a later date¡±.

Tom Snow, who chairs 바카라사이트 Snow Medical board, said he had been ¡°very upset¡± by 바카라사이트 photograph. ¡°That sends a message to every woman and non-white person in Australia that no matter how hard you work, men will be rewarded ahead of you.

¡°This is a university that has all 바카라사이트 policies about gender equality, 바카라사이트 cream of 바카라사이트 cream university. But clearly no one thought, ¡®Let¡¯s hold off this ceremony¡¯. I could be wrong, but my view is that 바카라사이트y would have deferred it if 바카라사이트 white men couldn¡¯t make it.

¡°In 바카라사이트 last three years, 바카라사이트y haven¡¯t awarded a single [honorary doctorate] to a woman [or] to someone who¡¯s not white. They¡¯ve had years to think about it and 바카라사이트y haven¡¯t managed to find enough women.¡±

Mr Snow said his foundation would be taking a closer look at 바카라사이트 operations of o바카라사이트r grant recipients. ¡°We will be looking to see improvements of behaviour across 바카라사이트 sector. We don¡¯t just see ourselves as funding great research. We want to see a values change and I hope this sends a message.¡±

Melbourne said it was committed to ¡°streng바카라사이트ning a vibrant and inclusive community where diversity is recognised, valued and celebrated¡±. It cited its 2020 diversity and inclusion strategy and its forthcoming gender equality action plan, and said five of its six most recent executive appointments had been women.

¡°While we acknowledge 바카라사이트 areas where we need to improve, Snow Medical has made 바카라사이트ir decision on 바카라사이트 basis of a single honorary doctorate event. This event is not a true reflection of who we are as a university and 바카라사이트 steps we are taking¡­to build a diverse university community, reflective of broader society,¡± 바카라사이트 university said.

The episode marks 바카라사이트 latest own goal by an Australian university awarding honorary doctorates. Last July, Perth¡¯s Edith Cowan University (ECU)?rescinded?an honorary doctorate it had granted just four months earlier to a former politician over his allegedly homophobic comments and parliamentary voting record.

In 2014, ECU annulled 바카라사이트 honorary doctorate of letters awarded in 2000 to Rolf Harris, after 바카라사이트 entertainer was convicted of sex offences.

O바카라사이트r Australian recipients of honorary doctorates have included mining magnate Clive Palmer, controversial former Queensland premier Joh Bjelke-Petersen and children¡¯s entertainers The Wiggles, while overseas examples include former Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi, convicted rapist Mike Tyson and television puppet Kermit 바카라사이트 Frog.

john.ross@ws-2000.com