An academic has been suspended while the University of Western Sydney investigates allegations the lecturer offered students better results in exchange for sexual favours.
A university spokesman confirmed the lecturer had been suspended last week pending the findings of an inquiry into the staff member's alleged conduct.
"I can confirm that we have launched an investigation after some serious allegations were raised with us in an anonymous email and we have suspended the person," the spokesman said.
"We were very quick to act, we do treat such allegations very seriously."
But students at the university have accused the institution of a lack of transparency in dealing with the case.
The university's Student Association Women's officer Belinda Giblin said the case highlighted problems with the university's processes.
"Victims are often left in the dark about where the process is at and when the process is ended and so never really know if there's been an outcome at all," she told ABC radio.
"The very fact that these students wrote to the university anonymously shows the real concerns they have about the process and the fact that they might be made to feel victimised as a result of making a claim."
But the university spokesman said the complainants had not been contacted because their identities were not known.
"To say the people making the allegation haven't been kept informed is just not true, because we don't yet know who they are.
"We are ensuring these students that they will be treated sympathetically and with the greatest degree of confidentiality."
http://www.seven.com.au/news/topstories/65891
A university spokesman confirmed the lecturer had been suspended last week pending the findings of an inquiry into the staff member's alleged conduct.
"I can confirm that we have launched an investigation after some serious allegations were raised with us in an anonymous email and we have suspended the person," the spokesman said.
"We were very quick to act, we do treat such allegations very seriously."
But students at the university have accused the institution of a lack of transparency in dealing with the case.
The university's Student Association Women's officer Belinda Giblin said the case highlighted problems with the university's processes.
"Victims are often left in the dark about where the process is at and when the process is ended and so never really know if there's been an outcome at all," she told ABC radio.
"The very fact that these students wrote to the university anonymously shows the real concerns they have about the process and the fact that they might be made to feel victimised as a result of making a claim."
But the university spokesman said the complainants had not been contacted because their identities were not known.
"To say the people making the allegation haven't been kept informed is just not true, because we don't yet know who they are.
"We are ensuring these students that they will be treated sympathetically and with the greatest degree of confidentiality."
http://www.seven.com.au/news/topstories/65891
