Sunday, May 04, 2008

Beauty queen ruckus turns ugly

Criticism of a Massey University online article celebrating a beauty queen has been met with a wave of hate mail.

The Association of University Staff national president yesterday issued a press release lambasting Massey for its presentation of a feature on Rhonda Grant.

The 22-year-old science graduate was third in the Miss Universe New Zealand beauty pageant last month.

An interview with her, featuring a racy bikini-clad photograph, was posted on the Massey website.

The photograph was removed shortly after, following complaints, and replaced by a head-and- shoulders shot.

Associate Professor Maureen Montgomery said the article was brought to her attention after complaints from Massey staff.

In the release, she called it "one of the most banal news features emanating from a university this year".

"I've actually had hate mail from people, anonymous of course," she said last night.

"They seem to think I'm just envious. I have to admit I had a laugh at that. I do have a sense of humour about this sort of thing and I think that was prevalent in the news release as well."

Dr Montgomery said staff raised their concerns because they thought it inappropriate that a university promote itself by using a beauty queen.


original article

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