James Cook University Vice Chancellor worked on ‘independent’ rape survey

THE vice-chancellor of the university that continued to employ a staff member who had pleaded guilty to rape, worked directly on the ‘independent’ national rape survey.

James Cook University Vice-Chancellor Professor Sandra Harding. Picture: Cameron Laird

SANDRA Harding, the Vice Chancellor of the disgraced university that continued to employ a staff member who had pleaded guilty to raping a student, worked directly with The Australian Human Rights Commission on the nationwide survey examining rates of rape at universities, launched in August last year.

The sexual assault and harassment survey aims to discover prevalence rates of rape and harassment at all 39 Australian universities, and has been promoted as an “independent” survey.

However, students have called this independence into question over concerns that the AHRC accepted $1 million in funding from Universities Australia, the peak body which represents the interests of universities and Vice Chancellors.

Now, in a news.com.au exclusive we can reveal James Cook University (JCU) Vice Chancellor, Sandra Harding, worked directly with the AHRC on the project providing advice and expertise on survey design and methodology.

The AHRC has defended the involvement of Professor Harding, who is also the former Chair of Universities Australia, and said that her input and expertise on survey methodology did not undermine the survey’s independence.

Yet Sharna Bremner from End Rape on Campus Australia said that the involvement of any Vice Chancellor in the survey design process was inappropriate because it could create perceptions of a “conflict of interest”.

“No Vice Chancellor should have been permitted to work on the survey in any capacity and the inclusion of JCU Vice Chancellor Sandra Harding is concerning for students.”

“You also have to ask how independent this survey can be when Universities Australia — the organisation who has the highest stakes in the outcome — is providing the funding for it.”

Anna Hush, who is a current student at Sydney University and was the Women’s Officer during the roll out of the survey last year, says that the involvement of a Vice Chancellor in shaping the survey could undermine student confidence.

“To find out that a Vice Chancellor was directly involved breaches students trust in the Commission and will cause a lot of concern for students about the independence and integrity of the process.” she said.

Abby Stapleton, who is the Women’s Officer at the National Union of Students, also condemned the decision to include Professor Harding in the AHRC survey design process, stating “the survey needs to be as independent as possible.”

The Australian Human Rights Commission has defended the inclusion stating “Professor Sandra Harding was consulted in the development of the survey questionnaire. Listening to feedback from Professor Harding and other individuals with expertise in survey methodology does not undermine the independence of the process.”

The university has confirmed to news.com.au that Harding was involved but has not offered further comment.

Douglas Steele was permitted to continue working at James Cook University until earlier this month, despite pleading guilty to raping an indigenous student three months earlier.

Last week news.com.au revealed that JCU had mislead the public when they stated that Senior Management had no knowledge that staff member Douglas Steele had pleaded guilty to raping one of their students.

In September 2015, Steele raped a 20-year-old indigenous student after a night of drinking with her and a mutual friend. At the time he worked at the JCU College of Healthcare Sciences.

In October that year police charged him with rape but he did not lose his job and in January 2016, he was appointed to Academic Adviser in the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Centre.

Four months ago, in September 2016, he pleaded guilty to the rape but was again permitted to remain in the position while awaiting sentencing. He voluntarily resigned last week, and is currently serving four months in prison. The sentence was significantly shortened due to a good character reference provided by a staff member at JCU.

While the university initially claimed that Senior Management did not know of the matter, and would have fired him if they did, news.com.au uncovered damning evidence supplied by whistleblowers proving that some staff, including the University Secretary, did have knowledge that Steele had been charged with the rape.

Since then, JCU have admitted that some senior staff knew of the charges in April 2016. Steele was permitted to continue working alongside indigenous students for eight months after that.

The university denies that Professor Harding knew about Mr Steele’s continued employment at the university after he was charged, but Ms Bremner said she should have known.

“Either the Vice Chancellor knew and did nothing, or else she doesn’t know what’s going on under her own roof. Either way it’s unacceptable and the buck stops with her.”

In 2015 Harding was the subject of media controversy after it was revealed that her salary had soared to $927,000 per annum which at the time meant that she was paid more than the Australian Prime Minister and US President combined.

Her pay packet, including benefits and bonuses, is now reportedly worth well over a million dollars.

In 2015, the university received $320 million in public tax payer funding via the Australian Government.

News.com.au can also reveal that Sandra Harding personally turned down a free offer to screen the US documentary, The Hunting Ground, at James Cook University campuses and that JCU is the only university in Australia to formally turn down a free screening of the film.

Allison Henry, the Campaign Director of The Hunting Ground Australia Project says that this decision was very “unfortunate” and that the documentary “has proven a valuable tool for universities to engage in a positive and proactive way with their students in the substantive issues of sexual violence on university campuses.”

“After several attempts to engage the university throughout 2016, JCU Vice Chancellor Professor Sandra Harding in correspondence to The Hunting Ground Australia Project in December 2016 stated that the university was not looking to screen the film to JCU students.

It is unfortunate that JCU have taken this position … Recent developments at JCU are a text book example of how not to handle this kind of scenario and demonstrate the need for substantive and cultural change at universities.”

Ms Bremner — who is the only Australian who appears in the film — has also expressed disappointment with the decision. “Other universities have embraced the opportunity to have open discussions around sexual violence within their communities. The Hunting Ground film is a good conversation starter [for that]. It addresses the exact kind of thing we are seeing at JCU.”

Ms Harding is currently overseas on annual leave holiday and has not been available for comment so far.

A spokesman for the university has stated that “while the documentary served a very important purpose, to draw attention to the issue of sexual violence in universities and society, JCU believes it is much more important for JCU to focus on the issue as part of the “Respect. Now. Always.” (R.N.A.) set of activities.”

Acting Vice Chancellor, Chris Cocklin has ordered a thorough review of the circumstances that allowed Douglas Steele, to remain on payroll between 2015 and 2017 and has described the situation as an “unfortunate affair”.

Ms Bremner has now called on the Queensland Minister for Education, Kate Jones, and the Federal Minister for Education, Simon Brimingham to be involved in the review, and to test whether the 2015 Higher Education Standards Framework — a framework which mandates that universities must foster and promote a safe environment for students — has been breached.

If you or someone you know has been impacted by sexual assault support is available by calling 1800 RESPECT and asking to speak to a trauma counsellor.

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