Woke types expressing blinkered, ideological views that reflect little more than a sad and out-of-touch group think. What pests they are with their pesky ideologies. Right?

The withdrawal of former deputy prime minister Mark Vaile from the chancellor's role that he was set to commence at the University of Newcastle can be pinned to the ratcheting-up of the activist campaign objecting to his appointment.

It was the impact that campaign would have had on Vaile's other endeavours, including his role as chairman of Whitehaven Coal, that saw him decide to withdraw from the appointment. There can be no doubt Vaile is very well connected in both government and the private sector. He would have been well placed to put forward the university's case and would have certainly provided a valuable connection to the Morrison government.

And that valuable connection would have come at a time when the relationship between the higher education sector and the Commonwealth might generously be described as "somewhat strained". The less charitable may view the relationship as toxic and irretrievably broken, especially in the bin-fire that was the humanities.

But it was Vaile's position as chairman of Whitehaven that got even people not known for activism deciding to activate. This was not civil disobedience, but the dissent that must be allowed in thriving democracies.

And while coal's contribution to climate change was singled out by many as a reason for the university not to appoint the chairman of a coal company to its most senior governance role, the governance of Whitehaven itself received far less attention.

The Gunnedah Basin giant is hardly the poster child for corporate responsibility and regulatory compliance. Last December, Whitehaven pleaded guilty to 19 charges - each with a maximum penalty of $1.1million - brought against two of its subsidiaries, Narrabri Coal and Narrabri Coal Operations.

Those 19 charges were brought by the state's resources regulator for breaches of mining laws that caused environmental damage that could last for decades.

Whitehaven's creative and unique proposal to pay $50,000 to its own industry body, the NSW Minerals Council, as part of reparation for that environmental damage, raised more than a few eyebrows among non-activist farmers and non-activist landholders.

That proposal suggested the $50,000 would help develop exploration guidance for the mining industry by the same lobbyist industry body that has led a relentless charge in NSW to challenge controls on mining. As recently as April, Whitehaven was seeking approval from the NSW Department of Planning, Industry and Environment to by-pass existing consent conditions to bury hundreds of used heavy-machinery tyres on its Tarrawonga Coal Mine site in north-west NSW.

It has sought to do so because it is not viable to transport the tyres to a facility that appropriately deals with used rubber. The company has sought to do the same with unwanted tyres at its Werris Creek mine due for closure in 2025.

Back in 2016, Whitehaven tried to stop the release of annual pollution reports from its north-west NSW coal mines, despite the state's Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) deciding the information was in the public interest.

Vaile's departure has been reduced in predictable outlets to a non-representative anti-coal activist mob chasing down a smart business decision by an authorised committee of four from the 16-person university council.

Those "activists" who opposed the appointment of Vaile rallied, gained support and made some noise to oppose an appointment they saw as sending obsolescent symbolism for the university. Isn't that democracy at work?

And aren't those who want the expansion of coal mines and the building of coal-fired power stations just as much pro-coal activists as those who don't want to see such expansion are anti-coal activists? Aren't they ideological in their approach? Listen to commercial talk-back radio in Newcastle and you'll soon hear the pro-coal activists and lobbyists rallying, attempting to gain support and making some noise.

Those who oppose their views are referred to as "greenies" or "lefties" and are always a "noisy minority". Referring to them as "professional activists" or "rent-a-crowd" is another preferred tactic. Those with opposing views to the pro-coal activists are never referred to as farmers, even when they are farmers.

This is all part of the rough and tumble of winning hearts and minds. Activists on either side of the debate are community members who walk among us. They all carry ideology in some way.

The closure of the Mark Vaile as chancellor chapter at the University of Newcastle is a contemporary example of democracy working just fine.

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