2 March 2012

Ian Young not pleased by his rafting students

| johnboy
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A great number of readers are sending in the all staff email going around ANU in reaction to yesterdays’ rafting excitement

From: staff.all-bounces@anu.edu.au [mailto:staff.all-bounces@anu.edu.au] On Behalf Of VC
Sent: Friday, 2 March 2012 3:17 PM
To: ‘staff.all@anu.edu.au’
Subject: [Staff.all] Sullivans Creek

Good afternoon

Yesterday ANU Security attended Sullivans Creek to ask a number of people to immediately stop ‘rafting’ down the flooded waterway. The police were called, but the people undertaking this dangerous activity dispersed before police attendance was required.

This is a highly irresponsible activity in the circumstances. Swimming and playing in and around swollen creeks and rivers is very dangerous. People must heed the warnings issued by the Emergency Services Agency, as well as ANU security.

Sullivans Creek is, at the moment, full of muddy storm water with strong currents. It also has many hidden hazards, such as fallen tree branches and rocks, as well as floating debris. The people involved in yesterday’s actions are extremely lucky they did not cause themselves, or others coming to their aid, serious injury or worse.

Further rain is forecast for this weekend. ANU Security will be monitoring use of Sullivans Creek over the weekend given the potential for repeat flooding.

May I take this opportunity to thank all staff and students who are taking appropriate precautions in the current conditions. I hope you all stay safe and dry over the weekend.

Regards

Ian Young

Vice-Chancellor

We’ve seen the same mail also sent to students.all@anu.edu.au .

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LSWCHP said :

bloodnut said :

I have a degree in Science from a University that refuses to support natural selection…

Embarrassing really.

I wouldn’t give the tiniest shit if these fools all died. That would just be thinning of the herd, and it would be good for the human race as a whole.

But they might kill someone else along the way, like my brother-in-law, or my old friend mentioned in another thread on this topic.

That would be a tragedy.

I can’t believe how heartless that comment was! Just kids indulging in reckless behaviour – nothing new! Professor Young was absolutely right – but I think a lot of the problem could have been solved if they wore helmets. And I have a suspicion that his concern was mostly borne from the fact that injuries sustained in Sullies are not covered by ANU’s insurance policy.

I bet most of those kids rafting would express plenty of sympathy if something happened to your brother in law!!

Two police officers were caught in the swollen Queanbeyan River trying to rescue a guy who jumped off Queens Bridge. http://www.queanbeyanage.com.au/news/local/news/general/police-caught-in-floodwaters-after-man-jumps-from-queens-bridge/2474838.aspx

A prime example of why you should stay away from floodwaters.

c_c said :

Wrong email: http://www.woroni.com.au/articles/news/chancellor-vice-responds-rafting-incident

Hehe. “Sensible students” is an oxymoron. I feel lucky I survived my student years.

The University of East Bumcrack is reborn …

bloodnut said :

I have a degree in Science from a University that refuses to support natural selection…

Embarrassing really.

I was a raft guide on a rafting expedition on the swollen Indus River from the border of Tibet to the border of Pakistan. Now that was very, very scary….and fun. If humans had nine lives, I used up seven of then on that trip!!

bloodnut said :

I have a degree in Science from a University that refuses to support natural selection…

Embarrassing really.

I wouldn’t give the tiniest shit if these fools all died. That would just be thinning of the herd, and it would be good for the human race as a whole.

But they might kill someone else along the way, like my brother-in-law, or my old friend mentioned in another thread on this topic.

That would be a tragedy.

They should actually be encouraged. The beauty of rafting, as opposed to speeding on the road, is that they will generally either die or survive unscathed … looking after Darwinian selection possibilities as perhaps the preferred option, but avoiding likely cost to the taxpayer upon survival …

bloodnut said :

I have a degree in Science from a University that refuses to support natural selection…

Embarrassing really.

The problem with your argument is that if one of these twits were to get themselves into trouble they likely wouldn’t go the way planned by natural selection but would be saved by an SES volunteer or a fire and rescue officer who would have had to put their own life on the line.

The cat did it7:10 pm 02 Mar 12

Maybe we could have someone from the Darwin Awards organisation waiting near the University Avenue bridge with a bunch of certificates, to be pinned to any corpse floating past.

Ian Young’s media release is a predictable CYA response, to pre-empt any grieving parents who might start banging on about lack of supervision/care etc at ANU.

Ian Young Vice Chancellor fag man.

I’m with the VC .. kids get pulled into storm water drains during heavy rains all the time. The water down sullies was pretty impressive .. and underneath it all, nothing but some rocks and creek debris to whack your head on.

It’s all fun until someone loses teeth.

I have a degree in Science from a University that refuses to support natural selection…

Embarrassing really.

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