Narrow Naming: What UWA’s Buildings Tell Us About Academia Camila Egusquiza
While trying to figure out what to write for this edition, I decided to look at building names on campus, and I came across a certain pattern that was hard to ignore. Most buildings and facilities are named after relevant people who contributed financially to the university: benefactors and philanthropists who are grateful to see their name on a building. Others are named after distinctive alumni: people who have contributed to the perceived prestigiousness of UWA. But if you take a closer look at a campus map, you will find it hard to see a building or room not named after a white man. In this article, I will attempt to shine light on the few buildings that recognise the achievements of women or people of colour (POC) and briefly touch on how academia continues to fall short in diversity.
Fay Gale The Fay Gale Studio is located on the ground floor of Hackett Hall. The studio is an educational enhancement unit named after Fay Gale, an Australian cultural geographer and emeritus professor. She was also an advocate for Indigenous and women’s rights. In 1978, she became the first woman to be appointed a professor at the University of Adelaide. And, in 1990, she became Vice-Chancellor of the University of 18
Western Australia, where she contributed to significant advances in gender equity.
Mary Raine Mary Carter was born in London and decided to migrate to Australia when she was 23, where she became a successful businesswoman managing hotels. After marrying Joe Raine and becoming Mary Raine, she made several contributions to create a medical school. In 1957, Joe suffered a fatal cerebral haemorrhage. Mary continued to donate funds to medical research. At the time of her death, her estate was worth about £1,000,000, making it one of the largest private donations ever made to an Australian university. As a thank you for her contribution to medical research, her name was immortalised in the Raine Study (1416 Parkway) just a few buildings away from Barry J. Marshall library.
Jean Bradley The Bradley Studio at the Octagon has become a well-known place around campus. Located just next to Riley Oval, this studio at the Octagon is named after university lecturer and theatre producer Jeana Isabel Dorrington Bradley. Jean studied English and Philosophy at UWA and, shortly after
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