Source: Federated Farmers
Federated Farmers is slamming Victoria University of Wellington’s response to violent comments made by prominent academic Mike Joy, describing it as weak and shameful.
Karl Dean, Federated Farmers dairy chair, says a letter today from the university’s vice-chancellor Nic Smith lacks substance given the serious nature of the complaint.
“For a senior academic at Victoria University of Wellington to publicly insinuate anyone in New Zealand should be hanged is totally unacceptable.
“It’s extremely disappointing – and frankly surprising – that the vice-chancellor hasn’t taken disciplinary action against Dr Joy.
“By failing to do so, his response is little more than a slap on the wrist with the wettest of bus tickets, and is a tacit endorsement of Dr Joy’s atrocious comments.
“Yesterday our main concern was Dr Joy’s deplorable comments, but now we’re even more concerned about the university’s decision not to take action.”
Dr Joy made the comments in a LinkedIn post last month, suggesting the dairy industry is currently putting babies (and adults) at risk with nitrate contamination of drinking/groundwater.
His proposed solution: “How about we bring back hanging for industry CEOs?”
Dean says Dr Joy’s apology today is clearly insincere.
“Yesterday he told Stuff he hadn’t gone too far with his comments about dairy leaders being hanged, and that he was comfortable with the way he had phrased it.
“But then, lo and behold, out comes the public apology today, completely at odds with what he was saying in the media only hours earlier.
“The public isn’t stupid – everyone knows full well that Dr Joy has issued his public apology today at the request of his employer, not because of any genuine remorse.
“On behalf of New Zealand farmers, I utterly reject this hollow apology.”
Dean says Joy’s extreme, violent and dangerous views are totally unacceptable from a well-known and senior academic.
“If one of Victoria University’s students made a similar comment calling for an academic or lecturer to be hanged, there would be swift and severe consequences.
“Similarly, if a dairy industry leader publicly made comments calling for an academic or environmental activist to be hanged, there would quite rightly be severe public outcry and condemnation.
“What we have here is a clear double-standard. The university should be deeply ashamed of this lack of action.”
In requesting a meeting with Smith, Dean said he’d like to discuss how Joy’s conduct aligns with the university’s Code of Conduct, and its Academic Freedom and Freedom of Expression policy.
“I’d also like to better understand what steps the university will be taking to ensure students from dairy farming backgrounds, or whose parents are dairy industry CEOs, feel safe on your campus.”
A copy of the letter has been sent to Hon. Shane Reti, Minister for Universities.
