OH, and here's Gary's "pity me" email he sent to us students

Date: Fri 4 May 11:25:10 EST 2007

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Subject: (NOTICE KKB008) Dear Students,
To: KKB008.1-07@student.qut.edu.au

I am facing
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This message has been automatically generated
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Dear Students,

I am facing a serious misconduct charge at
QUT over my publication
of an article in the Australian.
The article is available at the following site.
http://www.onlineopinion.com.au/view.asp?article=5730

I cannot comment further for obvious reasons,
but I will say that I acted
throughout to protect those who could not
protect themselves and also to
defend the honour of the university.
Nevertheless I am facing possible suspens=
ion without pay and further serious disciplinary action.

This of course is not the way I wished
to end my teaching career, but I hav=
e taken my stand because I could do no other.

To be frank, I had in mind something like
a farewell lecture, at which I wo=
uld have thanked the students present in the name
of all the thousands of s=
tudents I have taught in a career, which has spanned
five decades.  But man=
proposes and God disposes and it is extremely unlikely
I will get the oppo=
rtunity to take a public farewell of you, so I
take this opportunity now to=
thank everyone of you.  It has been a privilege
to be your teacher.  Your =
humour, your sharpness of mind, your curiosity and
above all your generous =
willingness to listen to an old man
have been a source of great joy to me.

I will do all in my power to come back and to
fulfil my commitments to you,=
but this crisis has taken a terrible toll on
my health.  If I do not return, please know that
I wish everyone of you all the best in your lives.
There is a benediction at the end of one of my
favourite poems by W. =
H. Auden. I would like, if you
will permit me, to leave you with it.

Let the winds of dawn that blow
Softly round your dreaming head
Such a day of sweetness show
Eye and knocking heart may bless,
Find the mortal world enough;
Noons of dryness see you fed
By the involuntary powers,
Nights of insult let you pass
Watched by every human love.

sincerely

Gary