Media Statement For immediate release Thursday, 25 September, 2003

Ogilvy: Lunatics loose on campus

United Future education spokesman Bernie Ogilvy today joined ACT's Stephen Franks in condemning the Labour Government's move to have all university research proposals examined through a Maori lens.

"Quite simply, it's absolutely nuts," Mr Ogilvy said.

"If our academic institutions are determined to become third-rate laughing stocks, then they're well on the path with this sort of loopy, politically correct thinking.

"And Stephen Franks is dead right: this is nothing more and nothing less than academic cowardice from institutions, lecturers and students who have just rolled over with barely a murmur of discontent.

"If New Zealand actually wants to deliver a knowledge economy and not just talk about it; if it actually intends to be a country where people have the guts to face up to things honestly and with intellectual rigour, then it should start here.

"There is no place for this cloying anti-intellectual drivel masquerading as cultural sensitivity in our institutions of higher learning if we actually want them to be that," he said.

"This is the latest Labour ideological attempt at social engineering. It's a foot-in-the-door piece of stupidity that needs to be stamped on now."

Ends.

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