Appeal against rejected application

Press, 26 February 1986, Page 8

Appeal against rejected application

PA Dunedin Mr Justin Wall, whose attempts to gain entry to the Otago Medical School attracted publicity last year, has now appealed against his rejected application to the Dental School.

Mr Wall, the son of the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Dr Gerard Wall, tried to gain entry to the Medical School in 1983 and 1984 under the Polynesian Preference Scheme and was turned down. His father, himself a doctor, appealed to the then Governor-General, Sir David Beattie, as Visitor to the university (the final appeal authority).

Sir David’s commissionary, Mr S. O’Regan, recommended Mr Wall be admitted.

Sir David finally decided that a fresh appeal to the university should proceed.. This confirmed Mr Wall’s earlier rejection.

Now Mr Wall’s appeal against rejected Dental School entry goes to a

sub-committee of the University Council. The only School of Dentistry in New Zealand is in Dunedin and entry to second-year classes is based on competition by marks. There is also allowance for two priority candidates who are of Madri or Pacific Island origin. Mr Wall already has a science degree. His highest mark was a B minus and his course included failed papers.

In the Governor-Gen-eral commissionary report the university was criticised for what was called institutional racism and not making Mr Wall aware of appeal rights.

Both Dr Wall and Mr Wall were approached In Wellington yesterday and declined to comment.

Appeals against entry to the restricted courses are not common. An appeal to the Governor-General is the final step. University authorities confirmed that Mr Wall’s appeal was taking place, but declined to comment further.