18th September 2010, 03:27 PM
(This post was last modified: 18th September 2010, 03:29 PM by kevin wooldridge.)
A few years back I made a complaint to the IFA after an IFA member openly published a rightwing political statement that not only bought the IfA into disrepute but was clearly an incitement to an illegal act or acts. I was not alone in doing this and another IfA member (totally independent of me) also bought the statement to the attention of the IfA. I asked at the time (having produced the evidence and the place where the statement was issued) if the IFA council would instigate an investigation into the matter on behalf of the Institute and deal with it as in internal disciplinary matter. I heard nothing more about the matter until several months later when a mail to another archaeological forum was bought to my attention. In it the person who had been reported, investigated and disciplined by the IfA was threatening all kinds of revenge against myself and the other person who had raised the matter with the IfA including I think the line 'I know where you live'....
It appears (much as the case described by Trowel Fodder) that the IfA rather than bringing this case through the IfA council had informed the person under investigation that it was a personal complaint from me and one other. As I had never met, spoken or communicated with the person whom the IfA had disciplined (or with the other complainant come to that), this did appear a little strange and I thought myself suggested that the IfA council at that time were lacking in moral courage in not pursuing the complaint on behalf of the Institute. It therefore doesn't surprise me that the complainant in this instance wishes to remain anonymous.....
What the IfA needs is a 'Whistleblowers Charter' to protect the anonymity of complainants where disclosure of their identity could lead to unfair treatment by persons under investigation OR to have the moral courage to take up investigations through the auspices of the IfA council, as their charter allows them to do....in my experience there is rarely smoke without fire!!
It appears (much as the case described by Trowel Fodder) that the IfA rather than bringing this case through the IfA council had informed the person under investigation that it was a personal complaint from me and one other. As I had never met, spoken or communicated with the person whom the IfA had disciplined (or with the other complainant come to that), this did appear a little strange and I thought myself suggested that the IfA council at that time were lacking in moral courage in not pursuing the complaint on behalf of the Institute. It therefore doesn't surprise me that the complainant in this instance wishes to remain anonymous.....
What the IfA needs is a 'Whistleblowers Charter' to protect the anonymity of complainants where disclosure of their identity could lead to unfair treatment by persons under investigation OR to have the moral courage to take up investigations through the auspices of the IfA council, as their charter allows them to do....in my experience there is rarely smoke without fire!!
With peace and consolation hath dismist, And calm of mind all passion spent...