University ‘not moral watchdog’

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32629, 10 June 1971, Page 2

University ‘not moral watchdog’

(New Zealand Press Association)

HAMILTON, June 9.

A university was not obliged to act as a moral watchdog, the University of Waikato Council was told at its meeting today.

Reporting on the exclusion of’ students convicted of a criminal offence, Professor P. S. Freyburg said the university had an obligation to safeguard its own unique activities, but society had its own moral watchdog. The university had the right to protect itself against any potential threat to its functions as an academic community. This could arise where a student had assaulted a fellow student and would have to be excluded to protect others.

Some could argue that by allowing a convicted person membership, the university would be brought into disrepute. But if the person represented no threat to the university’s activities, it had no valid reason for reducing his chance of rehabilitation. Professor Freyberg recommended that if the university wished to exclude all persons convicted of a specific offence it should state this unequivocally, so that the courts could take it into account when passing judgment. The imposition of an automatic penalty without reviewing the circumstances would

be extremely undesirable, he said.

The Waikato University Student’s Association president (Mr D. Swan) said that students would prefer the general principles offered by the professorial board rather than strict regulations such as had been introduced recently at Otago and Massey Universities. Professor J. Ritchie said he could speak for the professorial board in saying it had a very clear realisation of its responsibilities.

"Its responsibilities are not parental,” he said. “They are not legal they are academic. And the board is prepared to establish disciplinary powers on that criterion. Our responsibility must not be confused with legal responsibility.”