The Rindos affair was an academic scandal

Academic dishonesty

Academic dishonesty or academic misconduct is any type of cheating that occurs in relation to a formal academic exercise. It can include* Plagiarism: The adoption or reproduction of original creations of another author without due acknowledgment.* Fabrication: The...

 that occurred at the University of Western Australia

University of Western Australia

The University of Western Australia was established by an Act of the Western Australian Parliament in February 1911, and began teaching students for the first time in 1913. It is the oldest university in the state of Western Australia and the only university in the state to be a member of the...

.

Background

In early 1989, David Rindos, an archaeologist by qualification, was hired to fill a vacancy in the university's Department of Archaeology. Rindos commenced work on 13 June 1989. In 1990, the head of department, Dr Sandra Bowdler, took study leave. Bowdler was the Foundation Professor of Archaeology. Rindos became acting head of department in her place.

During his time as acting head, Rindos was made aware of problems in the department, including favouritism and affairs between students and staff members. In December 1990, Rindos wrote a memo

Memo

Memo may refer to:* Most commonly Memorandum.* Bench memorandum, law* Memorandum Recordings - record company* Mêmo* MEMO - specialization in electrical engineering that studies Microwaves, Electromagnetism and Optoelectronic...

 to Professor Charles Oxnard, then-head of Agriculture and Science, detailing the allegations of academic misconduct against Bowdler.

In June 1992, Rindos' three-year probation period was complete and a decision on tenure

Tenure

Tenure commonly refers to life tenure in a job and specifically to a senior academic's contractual right not to have his or her position terminated without just cause.-19th century:...

 was due. In May, the Vice-Chancellor, Fay Gale

Fay Gale

Fay Gale AO was an Australian cultural geographer and an emeritus professor. She was a passionate advocate of equal opportunity for women and Aboriginal people.-Background:...

, had extended the review period by six months after having received a memo from Dr Michael Partis, the new head of department. A Tenure Review Committee was formed as a result. After an hour of deliberation, the committee unanimously decided to deny tenure.

In July 1992 the Department of Archaeology was dissolved.

On 10 June 1993, Rindos was dismissed, effective 13 June.

In early 1996, the university's Senate announced an inquiry into the denial of tenure to Rindos. The terms of reference of the inquiry did not extend to investigating the allegations of misconduct against Bowdler.

The Western Australian Legislative Council

Western Australian Legislative Council

The Legislative Council, or upper house, is one of the two chambers of parliament in the Australian state of Western Australia. Its central purpose is to act as a house of review for legislation passed through the lower house, the Legislative Assembly. It sits in Parliament House in the state...

investigated the denial of tenure to Rindos. Their report was delivered in December 1997.

External links

• Times Higher Education Supplement: Sacked lecturer wins inquiry
• the "Rindos / UWA Case" Site
• Brian Martin: "David Rindos versus the University of Western Australia: analogies to the Orr case" (Chapter 6 of The Subversion of Australian Universities, edited by John Biggs and Richard Davis, Wollongong: Fund for Intellectual Dissent, 2002, pp. 93-108.)
• Philippa Martyr: "Unworthy of strong women" (Chapter 8 of The Subversion of Australian Universities, edited by John Biggs and Richard Davis, Wollongong: Fund for Intellectual Dissent, 2002, pp. 118-126.)