"Courts of law and tertiary educational institutions have features in common – they are often large, complex and intellectually based. They demand fairness and impartiality grace their hallowed halls."
Is that how it is? Do fairness and impartiality grace your halls, hallowed or otherwise? Where they do not, the tools of choice are Natural Justice and Administrative Fairness.
As with many things, these principles will rust before they wear out. Expect them, and demand them where they're absent or lacking. Do not accept being left in the dark, and do not be denied your opportunity to put your case.
Although Natural Justice and Administrative Fairness feature in the codes of conduct of every public university in Queensland they often seem to be overlooked. Faced with such a situation, it's a small burden to point out that, "it seems to me that fairness requires that I/we be given the details and a reasonable opportunity for reply." (And even if that point isn't made at the time, a prompt, follow-up email can do the job.)
Once you've explained, however, there shouldn't be any blank looks or dissembling replies.
Having lost sight of our objectives, we redoubled our efforts.
— Walt Kelly (1913-1973) U.S. cartoonist
— Walt Kelly (1913-1973) U.S. cartoonist
