The University of NSW is reviewing a blanket ban on staff giving the university as their address in letters to newspapers and is trying to play down the significance of the ban.
The Vice-Chancellor, Professor Michael Birt, told staff yesterday at the Vice-Chancellor's forum, a monthly meeting of academics, that the ban was not meant to limit academics.
Staff claimed he said the rule, quietly introduced but not widely publicised in May, was designed to protect both academics and the university from possible embarrassment in some cases.
Angry staff have claimed the ban infringes their freedom and standing.
The rule in the administration manual says correspondence between staff and newspapers is regarded as personal and staff are not permitted to give the university as their address.
GRAHAM WILLIAMS
Suppression of dissent website
in the section on Documents
in the subsection on Australian university speech codes