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Former Indian student alleges abuse by Australian university officials

Last updated on: June 04, 2009 16:00 IST

As the Victorian government tries to calm the situation following a surge in attacks on Indians in Melbourne, a former Melbourne University student from India has alleged that he was verbally abused by officials when he demanded basic amenities.

38-year old Richard Harvey, who was studying at the Meridian International School in 2007, said university employees ridiculed him when he requested toilet paper and drinking water be made available on campus, Herald Sun newspaper reported.

"There was no toilet

paper and no water to drink, it was unbelievable," he said, adding "I asked a number of times and was ignored." After three months of lobbying with officials, a quality control supervisor allegedly told him "You come from a country where people s--- in a field and you're expecting us to provide for you here." "I was just shocked," Harvey said. "I had a meeting with the director of the university but he wasn't interested . . . I am yet to receive any sort of apology" he added.
The newspaper said the university could not be contacted for comment.

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