College rejects human right criticism

Press, 29 December 1986, Page 3

College rejects human right criticism

The number of women students at Lincoln College has risen, almost three-fold since 1975, says the college’s principal. Professor Bruce Ross. Professor Ross has taken issue with comments by the outgoing president of the Lincoln College Students’ Association, Ms Kirsty Burnett. The comments were reported in “The Press,” in her annual report to the college council on December 15. In her report, Ms Burnett criticised the “institutional racism and sexism” at the college. Professor Ross said that these issues had been discussed at length by the college council this year. Largely as a result of Ms Burnett’s efforts, the council adopted a policy of equal employment opportunities and set up a working party to recommend further action. “I have been informed that on other university campuses Human Rights Commission representatives have quoted Lincoln’s initiatives as an example to be followed,” Professor Ross said.

Ms Burnett had «e--ferred to the domination of teaching and decision making by white men, but “in these respects Lincoln College reflects New Zealand society,” he said. It took time to bring about changes, but there were already some positive signs. “The proportion of women students has grown from 10.9 per cent of the total in 1975 to 30 per cent this year, in a student population which has almost doubled over the same period.” This increase would soon lead to more women graduates gaining teaching and research positions, he said. The low proportion of Maori students was a matter of concern to the college, and earlier this year the professorial board set up a working party to examine ways to attract more Maori students. Professor Ross said that the report in “The Press” did not record Ms Burnett’s pleasure at the establishment of anti-racism and Maori student clubs and the renewed vigour of the Women’s Club.