Arguably, the University of Sydney鈥檚 decision to give former Prime Minister John Howard an honorary doctorate on September 30 has backfired badly.聽
Academics and students spoke eloquently against the award before and during the ceremony, prompting some students who had just been given their degree to join in.
The university had cited Howard鈥檚 鈥渨orld-leading gun law reform, leadership in East Timor and contribution to Australia鈥檚 economic reform鈥 as reasons for the award. While many would question these, the elephant in the room was Iraq.