Sir Joh to face protests

Press, 8 May 1985, Page 10

Sir Joh to face protests

NZPA-AAP Brisbane Queensland’s Premier, Sir Johannes Bjelke-Petersen, will be the target of demonstrations when he receives an honor ■ y doctorate of laws at tne University of Queensland on Friday evening. Many university academics, lecturers and students strongly oppose giving the honorary doctorate to Sir Johannes as part of the university’s seventyfifth anniversary celebrations.

The protest will include a mock degree ceremony and

groups of students masquerading as Nazis. A university Labour Party Club spokesman, John Cherry, said that a peaceful protest was planned but concern was growing that the University had hired a private security firm to back up the police.

Sir Johannes would be met by a goose-stepping “Nazi” marching band as he arrived at the presentation at the university’s Mayne Hall, along with, a “book burning” symbolising Adolf Hitler’s torching of proscribed university textbooks in Germany in the 19305.

It was also anticipated that University Choir members would turn their heads at the presentation and several university senators would protest by walking out. Other forms of protest included academics refusing to join the academic procession headed by the Chancellor, Sir Walter Campbell, and professors who would turn their backs as the Premier entered. “A group of people in academic dress will hand out honorary doctorates to show how worthless they are,” Mr Cherry said. “We’ve planned a mock

honorary doctorate degree ceremony with degrees going out to people dressed as Idi Amin, Mussolini, Russ Hinze, and a gorilla. “And if we can get a sheep in there, we’ll give it one, too,” he said. Sir Johannes dismissed yesterday the demonstration as being akin to a group of primary school pupils. “I’m told that among them will be some very learned gentlemen and gentlewomen. “It’s a pity that during the course of their education these learned people did not learn some decent manners as well.”