Publicity Stunts Or Not, Honorary Awards Not Quite What The Doctor Ordered
The Age
Saturday January 5, 2008
University doctorates for celebrities may devalue the achievement, writes Harriet Alexander.
SHANE Warne's gravitas on the occasion of receiving his honorary doctorate from a British university slipped into irreverence when he suggested England's cricketers might now like to call him "The Professor". Politicians expressed outrage, postgraduate students at Southampton's Solent University were furious and it seemed the blend of pomp and publicity universities conjure for the ceremonial distribution of their honorary degrees had crumbled into farce. Singapore's former prime minister Lee Kuan Yew received an honorary doctorate from the Australian National University in March last year, and accepted the student protests that accompanied the decision as good publicity. "Because they made the protest, therefore they have highlighted the fact," said Mr Lee, who is accused of suppressing dissent during his 30-year rule. Public cynicism about the practice has started to catch up with universities. Some have toned down the celebrity factor or tightened their policies on honorary doctorates amid accusations they are degrading PhDs and turning one of their highest honours into a circus.The University of Technology, Sydney, created guidelines to preclude such luminaries as Dr Warne from donning its gowns, while Macquarie University abstained from giving them altogether. This narrowing of mind came as a surprise to the secretary of the honorary degrees committee at Monash University, Brian Corless. "We don't have anything near as strict as that in relation to people who are not necessarily alumni of our university," he said. Nigel Palmer, president of the Council of Australian Postgraduate Associations, said most students objected when the contribution to society was unclear. "Support for higher education is always valued, but I think there are limits," Mr Palmer said. George Brown, who wrote a PhD on the authenticity of academic qualifications, said people used honorary doctorates to build their credentials, but etiquette dictated that they did not refer to themselves as "doctor"."It's just for the university to show off at a graduation ceremony. They're just stunts," Dr Brown said. Victoria's oldest universities, Melbourne and Monash, conferred a mere seven and four honorary doctorates respectively last year. Australian Catholic University, which counts the Wiggles among its honorary alumni, gave 11 honorary doctorates, including to Age cartoonist Michael Leunig, construction magnate Rino Grollo, former Fraser Government minister Fred Chaney and Aboriginal musician Jimmy Little. Vice-chancellor Peter Sheehan said it was important for the university to recognise people who acted as role models for students. -- With CHRIS EVANS
© 2008 The Age