I was under the impression that universities encouraged a wide range of views. Further, I thought that universities were a hotbed of dissenting views and opinions, some of which challenge the usual university mantra. I might add a caveat to that by saying that the above is true, notwithstanding professor Fraser's treatment.

Has OLO appointed an arbiter or is someone so narcissistic that he or she has assumed the role?

Sage,
good question about an arbiter.

yes universities are hot beds for dissenting view, its what they do.

but there are rules of engagment and professional protocols that ensure quality of dissent and opinion are of a high standard.

This discussion thus far would be right at home in a bar full of taxi drivers or at a BBQ honoring Eric Butler and the national front toadies.

Ode the Gutter Snipe

The "Gutter Snipe" is out and about,
All hail the "Snipe",
Who lacks courage and skill,there is no doubt,
Who knows not the difference between truth and tripe.

His intellectual prowess,searching for clout,
Justifying his own extraneous mouth.

PS.Working not far from a Taxi garage I know many who are ex- engineers,lawyers,Ship's Captains, Qantas Pilots,and bankers.Someone is tarring many with a very arrogant and bigotted brush.Intellectualism as apposed to racism?
I wonder who can that be?
Be careful what you say,as I hear very interesting stories.

"We are the Hollow Men,head piece filled with straw"
Know the poet?

Dr Natasha Cica asks "are we racist?"
The fact the all this was aimed at one section of the community, does that not tell you something about that section of the community. I would say they have the problem not the Aussies. The Aussies have had enough of there behavior in our home (and there home too, but do they deserve this home?) In the days the attitude from this section was pretty obvious, spitting at camera's etc, can't we cut the political correctness crap and get to the point?
seems to me they really need to lift there game, this reaction has been along time coming from the Aussies, they have put us with there rubbish for years and personally i think they got off pretty light, then in the days after there reaction was nothing to be desired either. fact is if people who are here from other places must and should respect us and our ways... or go. simple. There attitude to wards Aussies is a joke and we are expected to just take it, well i think that time is past, we want to live nice lives here not fit with uneducated idiots that think we are a lower form of life, this is a crazy situation and we should not be asked to accept it. When one blows them selves up and kills some of us, i think we should wrap them in pig skin and stick a pig trotter in there mouth and leave them to rot in the street... the Aussies are giving back what there receiving.

LOL Pigs deserve better hey ... but imagine the outrage....... if islamists were actully treated the way they treat Australians. Lucky for us we arn't so ugly of soul we'd bother, and to think they winge when we arrest them for bombmaking and will protest as we start to deport them.

We have a strong culture here, our convict past proudly is not one of whining and victimhood, even though our strong Ancestors were so badly abused and suffered terrible treatment, they have a prevailing strength that did not rely on playing the victem but got up and on and built our fine country.

No wonder we think islamists are pathetic.

Life goes on? I think it will happen again, and again, and again. I reckon those young rioters chanting 'Aussie Aussie Aussie' are a little confused - wearing backwards baseball caps and bashing people is not a part of our culture. Why blame it on race when the real enemy is stupidity?
PS this land belongs to the Aboriginal people, anyone else is simply borrowing. Be grateful.