Pell Picks New Council for Troubled College
By Eamonn Duff
A new council has been appointed to the trouble-plagued University of Sydney college St John's in the hope of restoring order and "lasting change." The group, hand picked by Catholic Archbishop of Sydney, George Pell, and the university's vice-chancellor Michael Spence, comprises 10 lay fellows and six clerical fellows who will hold office for three years. Fairfax understands the college rector Michael Bongers is also now anxiously waiting to learn if - or how - he fits into the new college set up. Among the lay fellows are professors, members of the Sydney archdiocese and retired NSW Supreme Court judge Kenneth Handley who earlier this year deliberated over the fate of 33 suspended students at the college. The council's former chair, Christine Liddy, has returned despite having resigned several weeks ago. Advertisement Fairfax understands Ms Liddy was asked back in the hope of retaining some continuity between regimes. She will, however, relinquish the position of chair which is expected to be taken by former chancellor of University of Western Sydney, John Phillips. There are also some familiar faces amongst the newly appointed clerical fellows with Gerald Gleeson, Peter Williams and Paul Stenhouse all having served on past councils. Cardinal Pell hailed the new appointments as "a very distinguished group of people." "Together they bring extensive experience in public life, in the university and college world, and in the life of the church," he said. St John's College has been in a state of limbo for almost a month after Cardinal Pell ordered five remaining priests on its council to resign, stating he no longer had "confidence in the capacity" of the council to "reform life at the college". After they had stepped down, the council's chair, Ms Liddy, confirmed both she and the council's remaining lay fellows had also resigned. The dramatic developments followed a Fairfax Media investigation that exposed a toxic culture of bullying and intimidation at Australia's oldest Catholic college. The year could not have got off to a worse start when in March, a first year student was rushed to nearby Royal Prince Alfred hospital with a bleeding stomach after being pressured to drink a toxic cocktail containing shampoo, alcohol and dog food, as part of an Orientation week ritual. In the following months, the institution was plagued by further initiation rituals and rioting students causing widespread vandalism, including faeces routinely left in common areas. The rector, Mr Bongers, has repeatedly tried to stamp out anti-social and loutish behaviour but his authority was often compromised by members of the previous council. He refused to comment yesterday about his future. Cardinal Pell confirmed two lay fellows were still to be appointed, adding the new council would meet for the first time in early December. "I wish the new council every success as it takes up the work of bringing about lasting change to St John's College for the benefit of students for generations to come." Winds of change: The new St John's council Professor Marie Carroll - pro vice chancellor, University of Sydney Sister Giovanni Farquer - director interfaith relations, Archdiocese of Sydney Professor James Franklin - school of mathematics and statistics, University of NSW The Hon Kenneth Handley - retired NSW Court of Appeal judge Daniel Hill - director Archdiocese of Sydney University chaplaincies and convenor at University of Sydney and University of Technology Sydney Christine McNamee Liddy - former chairwoman of St John's College council John Phillips - chancellor University of Western Sydney 2001-10 Professor Anthony Shannon - master Warrane College, University of NSW 2000-12 Associate Professor Bernadette Tobin - director Plunkett Centre for Ethics, St Vincent's Hospital Professor Jill White - dean of nursing and midwifery, University of Sydney Clerical fellows: Rev Amin Abboud - GP and senior priest of Opus Dei Rev Gerald Gleeson - past fellow, former academic. Rev Daniel Meagher - studied in Rome, former background in law Rev Brendan Purcell - adjunct professor of philosophy, University of Notre Dame Australia Rev Paul Stenhouse - senior priest and active in Catholic media. Rev Peter Williams - vicar general and moderator of the curia, diocese of Parramatta.
|
.
Any original material on these pages is copyright © BishopAccountability.org 2004. Reproduce freely with attribution.