Three universities assess Peter Rathjen’s record

Three universities are reviewing full details of disgraced VC Peter Rathjen’s conduct during his chequered two-decade career.

Peter Rathjen.

Three universities are reviewing full details of disgraced VC Peter Rathjen’s conduct during his chequered two-decade tenure in some of the highest academic offices in the land.

The universities of Melbourne, Tasmania and Adelaide have told staff and students they are keen to hear of any information relating to Professor Rathjen or any other staff member who has engaged in harassment towards colleagues.

Professor Rathjen was the subject of an explosive report by SA’s ICAC last week which found him guilty of “serious misconduct” after he groped and kissed two women against their will at an alumni function and started an inappropriate sexual relationship with another colleague.

The report also canvassed a separate, secret investigation by Melbourne University into “very serious” claims of misconduct by Professor Rathjen when he was dean of the science faculty in the 2000s.

Separate from that, the University of Tasmania has now indicated it has reopened its inquiries into the conduct of Professor Rathjen as vice-chancellor from 2011 to 2017.

“As announced following the release of the South Australian ICAC statement about Peter Rathjen, the University of Tasmania has begun an investigation into his time as vice-chancellor here,” a UTAS spokesman said.

“That review continues, and we will support anyone who has experiences to share, either with the university or through other channels such as the Tasmanian Integrity Commission. It would not be appropriate to comment while that review is ongoing.”

The National Tertiary Education Union is demanding UTAS appoint an “independent, external” person to handle any complaints about Professor Rathjen.

Union Tasmanian divisional secretary Kelvin Michael said the university’s current invitation to staff who may have allegations or concerns to report them to the head of human resources was unacceptable.

“The NTEU has written to the vice-chancellor raising some concerns about the anonymity of complaints and recommending that an independent process be followed,” Dr Michael said. “An external, independent person is preferred.”

The University of Adelaide remains troubled by the fact that the serious claims of misconduct involving Professor Rathjen at Melbourne University were not relayed to UA when it was considering him as a candidate for VC ahead of his appointment in 2018.

The Australian has obtained an internal email sent out on Thursday by vice-chancellor Duncan Maskell saying the type of conduct Professor Rathjen was found guilty of at UA was “distressing” and will never be tolerated at MU.

The statement also stresses that Melbourne University co-operated with the ICAC investigation, including providing a report of an independent investigation in 2019 into an incident that occurred when Professor Rathjen was at the university.

UA is considering holding an open forum for all staff and students so they can raise their concerns with the governing council.

NTEU SA secretary Nick Warner said Adelaide uni staff were “shell-shocked, angry and disgusted” at the behaviour of the former VC and the handling of his case by the university.