Nexus on Thesis Row

The Waikato University mag Nexus has a couple of interesting articles on the stoush over the thesis, entitled Dreamers of the Dark: Kerry Bolton and the Order of the Left Hand path, a Case-study of a Satanic-Neo-Nazi synthesis.

Some interesting aspects:

They indicate that the process entailed several different reports with various authors. Deputy Vice-Chancellor Doug Sutton, who was in charge of the review, recommended that the thesis be downgraded from First Class Honours, although he said it still deserved a passing grade.

Additionally, Sutton said that because supervisor Dov Bing had “well known and longstanding views against Neo-Nazi groups,” there was a possible conflict of interest.

van Leeuwen and key staff involved with the thesis were also barred from viewing some finished reports. van Leeuwen became so frustrated with the process at one point during this year that he sought legal advice on suing the University.

The disagreements led to the secretary of the Tertiary Education Union, Sharn Riggs, sending a letter to Professor Crawford, saying that Waikato University staff were talking of withdrawing from postgraduate supervision because their jobs were not safe, and that Sutton’s reports impinged on academic freedom.

It sounds there are some unresolved issues.