Griffith acts on ‘racist’ lecture
A GOLD Coast university professor is no longer teaching an Indigenous Studies course after students complained about an alleged “racist”, “twisted” lecture.
Professor Regina Ganter had been teaching a First Peoples course but Griffith University confirmed in a statement yesterday the remainder would be taught by an indigenous academic.
However, Griffith maintains it stands by Prof Ganter and said she had demonstrated a clear commitment to social justice in her career.
Student Andrew Beitzel, complaining via Facebook on March 27, said he had sat through “one of the most cooked, racist classes I’ve ever been in at Griffith”.
“We were told all about how good the missions were for Aboriginal people, specifically German missions,” the 24year-old from Brisbane wrote.
“My family are descended from the genocide that occurred through the Stolen Generations, as my greatgrandparents were both taken to Moore River Native Mission,” he wrote.
“I knew it was going to be bad when the first slide was a picture of a German missionary handing Aboriginal children lollies as gifts, presented without comment.
“The lecturer proceeded to talk about the, in her words, ‘German difference’ in missions, and how German missions were better for Aboriginal people than English-run missions.
“Never mind that Aboriginal peoples were dispossessed and robbed of their culture through genocide in these missions, but apparently the German missions did this kindly to us which makes them okay.”
Mr Beitzel claimed Prof Ganter made a comment about “missions preventing genocide” and he described it as “racist”, “twisted” and “propagating a white supremacist history”.
Mr Beitzel posted again on Friday, saying his public complaint had prompted a meeting with the Pro Vice Chancellor of Griffith and senior staff.
“Professor Regina Ganter has stepped down entirely from the course. The course will be led by an Aboriginal lecturer,” he posted.
He had also called for the university to support revoking her membership to the Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies.
In a statement to the Bulletin, Griffith Pro Vice Chancellor Arts Education and Law Professor Paul Mazerolle confirmed Prof Ganter would no longer take the course after a “mutually agreed” decision between her and the university.
A day after Mr Beitzel’s complaint, Prof Ganter met Griffith’s Council of Elders and Office of Indigenous Community, Engagement, Policy and Partnerships plus indigenous student support unit GUMURRII.
“Collectively, they recommended the University’s Indigenous Studies major be led and primarily delivered by an indigenous teaching team,” Prof Mazerolle said.
“Professor Ganter has previously advocated for indigenous Studies to be delivered by an indigenous teaching team. The University ... supports this recommendation.”