VICTORY: Amid Backlash La Trobe University Withdraws Suspension Of LGBT Academic Roz Ward

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After the relentless campaign against the anti-bullying Safe Schools program, leading to the suspension of La Trobe university academic and co-founder of the Safe Schools Coalition Roz Ward – it turns out the university have just withdrew their suspension.

YOU BEAUTY!!

The move comes after the National Tertiary Education Union(NTEU) threatened to take legal action against the university, if the misconduct charges against Ward weren’t dropped, arguing that the university could be in breach of the fair work act.

Tonight, on the NTEU Victorian Division’s Facebook Page, the education body sent the following to the university:

“Maurice Blackburn has written on behalf of NTEU to La Trobe University Vice Chancellor John Dewar calling for Victorian Safe Schools Co-Ordinator and academic Roz Ward to be reinstated following her suspension earlier this week,” as it continues.

“Her suspension, on Wednesday, followed publicity surrounding a status update and accompanying photograph in which Ms Ward expressed an opinion about the Australian flag. The university claims the post constitutes serious misconduct. This is despite La Trobe claiming to be a champion of academic freedom.

“Maurice Blackburn and NTEU argue that Ms Ward’s suspension contravenes the university’s enterprise agreement, the Fair Work Act and Victoria’s Equal Opportunity Act. They hope the legal letter will limit further reputational damage to Ms Ward and lead to her immediate reinstatement.”

The Facebook content that caused all of this mess, was a post which included a picture of the rainbow flag on her personal page, along with the words: “Now we just need to get rid of the racist Australian flag on top of state parliament and get a red one up there and my work is done”.

Roz Ward has already received a lofty amount of criticism for her involvement in setting up the Safe Schools coalition program, which aims to promote sexuality and gender inclusion in schools.

Conservative opponents of the program have been beating the drums of war, claiming that through Safe Schools, Ward is promoting a ‘Marxist agenda’.

The attacks on the program have reached new lows, with personal opinions being used as leverage in the growing battle over the anti-bullying programs appropriateness in schools, the consequence of which has been a personal and professional hell for Roz Ward.

The decision by La Trobe university to suspend a staff member for a Facebook comment has come under fire, given it is an institution classically thought to promote free thinking, debate and critical opinion.

There was even a Change.org petition demanding the university reinstate Ward, already gaining over 10 thousand signatures. Success!!

The university was thrown into further controversy today when it was revealed an opinion piece was published on their official website three years ago, voicing similar sentiments to that of Roz Wards Facebook comment.

Not surprisingly the internet has been alive with support for Roz with #IStandWithRozWard trending on Twitter and the Facebook page ‘We Stand With Roz Ward’  already attracting over 5,000 likes.

Header via Star Observer.