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‘Witch hunt’: two students expelled from University of Melbourne after pro-Palestine protest in academic’s office Mehreen Faruqi accuses University of Melbourne of ‘witch hunt’ for expelling students over pro-Palestine protest
(about 1 hour later)
Exclusive: Two further students suspended, with the four given 20 days to lodge an appeal, after vice-chancellor accused group of ‘improper conduct’Exclusive: Two further students suspended, with the four given 20 days to lodge an appeal, after vice-chancellor accused group of ‘improper conduct’
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The Greens deputy leader, Mehreen Faruqi, has accused the University of Melbourne of a “witch hunt” after the first formal expulsion of pro-Palestine student activists since waves of campus demonstrations began in 2023.The Greens deputy leader, Mehreen Faruqi, has accused the University of Melbourne of a “witch hunt” after the first formal expulsion of pro-Palestine student activists since waves of campus demonstrations began in 2023.
On Monday, letters were sent from the university’s vice-chancellor, Emma Johnston, to four students, informing two that they had been terminated and two that they were suspended until March next year after taking part in a pro-Palestine demonstration at an academic’s office last October.On Monday, letters were sent from the university’s vice-chancellor, Emma Johnston, to four students, informing two that they had been terminated and two that they were suspended until March next year after taking part in a pro-Palestine demonstration at an academic’s office last October.
The students were given 20 business days to lodge an appeal, however Johnston’s decision, which upheld recommendations made by the university’s student discipline committee, will remain in place until the process is completed.The students were given 20 business days to lodge an appeal, however Johnston’s decision, which upheld recommendations made by the university’s student discipline committee, will remain in place until the process is completed.
“In the interest of maintaining good order and discipline, I direct you to only attend campus for the purpose of study or assessment … until your expulsion takes effect,” Johnston wrote in a letter seen by Guardian Australia.“In the interest of maintaining good order and discipline, I direct you to only attend campus for the purpose of study or assessment … until your expulsion takes effect,” Johnston wrote in a letter seen by Guardian Australia.
“You were found to have engaged in improper conduct and in doing so breached sections of the vice-chancellor regulation, and the student conduct policy.”“You were found to have engaged in improper conduct and in doing so breached sections of the vice-chancellor regulation, and the student conduct policy.”
The students were referred to the disciplinary committee after reports they were part of a group of about 20 who, on 9 October 2024, occupied the office of an academic who oversees the university’s joint PhD program with the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.The students were referred to the disciplinary committee after reports they were part of a group of about 20 who, on 9 October 2024, occupied the office of an academic who oversees the university’s joint PhD program with the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.
The protesters were calling on the university to disband its joint programs with Israeli universities, which have been a target of the global boycott, divestment and sanctions movement since 2004.The protesters were calling on the university to disband its joint programs with Israeli universities, which have been a target of the global boycott, divestment and sanctions movement since 2004.
Faruqi, who is also the Greens’ higher education spokesperson, said the university was on the “wrong side of history”.Faruqi, who is also the Greens’ higher education spokesperson, said the university was on the “wrong side of history”.
“Universities like the University of Melbourne should cease the disciplinary witch hunts on brave student activists and issue a public apology for the McCarthyist crackdown on staff and students speaking out for a free Palestine,” she said.“Universities like the University of Melbourne should cease the disciplinary witch hunts on brave student activists and issue a public apology for the McCarthyist crackdown on staff and students speaking out for a free Palestine,” she said.
“From draconian anti-protest policies and police interventions to surveillance, suspensions and disciplinary actions, university management have used every trick in the book to stifle activism.“From draconian anti-protest policies and police interventions to surveillance, suspensions and disciplinary actions, university management have used every trick in the book to stifle activism.
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“Students and staff at universities have led the way in rallying against Israel’s atrocities, and they continue to pay the price.”“Students and staff at universities have led the way in rallying against Israel’s atrocities, and they continue to pay the price.”
Johnston told Guardian Australia the university respected the rights of individuals to protest, reiterating “this has not changed”.Johnston told Guardian Australia the university respected the rights of individuals to protest, reiterating “this has not changed”.
“Universities are places where free and open debate must take place, but the safety of our students and staff must also be protected as this is integral to enabling free and open debate,” she said.“Universities are places where free and open debate must take place, but the safety of our students and staff must also be protected as this is integral to enabling free and open debate,” she said.
“It’s our responsibility to respond to any actions that may intimidate or threaten the safety of students and staff on our campuses. These matters are taken seriously and addressed under the appropriate policy which may include disciplinary procedures.”“It’s our responsibility to respond to any actions that may intimidate or threaten the safety of students and staff on our campuses. These matters are taken seriously and addressed under the appropriate policy which may include disciplinary procedures.”
Alex Ryvchin, the co-CEO of the Executive Council of Australian Jewry, said there was a right to protest, but there was no right to target individuals and make them “fearful for their safety”.Alex Ryvchin, the co-CEO of the Executive Council of Australian Jewry, said there was a right to protest, but there was no right to target individuals and make them “fearful for their safety”.
“The targeting … was dangerous and completely unacceptable and such behaviour has no place anywhere, let alone at a centre of education and the professor’s workplace,” he said. “The university was right to take decisive action.”“The targeting … was dangerous and completely unacceptable and such behaviour has no place anywhere, let alone at a centre of education and the professor’s workplace,” he said. “The university was right to take decisive action.”
Ryvchin said universities had allowed “extreme elements” of the anti-Israel movement to develop on campuses in the past academic year which had subordinated the freedoms of the “vast majority” of students and staff.Ryvchin said universities had allowed “extreme elements” of the anti-Israel movement to develop on campuses in the past academic year which had subordinated the freedoms of the “vast majority” of students and staff.
“It appears that most universities are determined not to allow this to happen again but the proof will be in their handling of incidents like this,” he said.“It appears that most universities are determined not to allow this to happen again but the proof will be in their handling of incidents like this,” he said.
Dr Elizabeth Strakosch, a member of the University of Melbourne’s National Tertiary Education Union branch and a political science lecturer, said the union was “deeply concerned” about the implication of the disciplinary proceedings on the wider community given widespread protest crackdowns across institutions.Dr Elizabeth Strakosch, a member of the University of Melbourne’s National Tertiary Education Union branch and a political science lecturer, said the union was “deeply concerned” about the implication of the disciplinary proceedings on the wider community given widespread protest crackdowns across institutions.
The University of Sydney’s vice-chancellor, Mark Scott, on Monday confirmed staff and students would be banned from holding banners on campus without prior permission and staff would be unable to send political emails unless prior interest has been expressed, as part of five revised policies adopted by the institution.The University of Sydney’s vice-chancellor, Mark Scott, on Monday confirmed staff and students would be banned from holding banners on campus without prior permission and staff would be unable to send political emails unless prior interest has been expressed, as part of five revised policies adopted by the institution.
It followed a suite of rules against protests implemented at the University of Melbourne in March, including that they may not be held indoors and must not obstruct entries or exits of university buildings.It followed a suite of rules against protests implemented at the University of Melbourne in March, including that they may not be held indoors and must not obstruct entries or exits of university buildings.
“We’re definitely seeing an intensification of surveillance, a crackdown on dissent, and there’s a widespread feeling amongst our membership that academic freedom is on the line,” Strakosch said.“We’re definitely seeing an intensification of surveillance, a crackdown on dissent, and there’s a widespread feeling amongst our membership that academic freedom is on the line,” Strakosch said.
“Sit-ins and protests are often disruptive. That’s the way that they function. They’re one of the most important tools that students and staff have for getting concerns that are not being registered on to the agenda.“Sit-ins and protests are often disruptive. That’s the way that they function. They’re one of the most important tools that students and staff have for getting concerns that are not being registered on to the agenda.
“It’s pretty clear that there is a change in atmosphere and temperature on campuses for both staff and students. If upheld, this will be the first [Australian] university to expel students over protests around Gaza, and that sets a really dangerous precedent for other universities.”“It’s pretty clear that there is a change in atmosphere and temperature on campuses for both staff and students. If upheld, this will be the first [Australian] university to expel students over protests around Gaza, and that sets a really dangerous precedent for other universities.”
Dr Jordana Silverstein, a cultural historian at the University of Melbourne, said it was “frustrating” to see the university and vice-chancellor “so severely discipline” the students for their actions.Dr Jordana Silverstein, a cultural historian at the University of Melbourne, said it was “frustrating” to see the university and vice-chancellor “so severely discipline” the students for their actions.
“This is not about the occupation of an office,” she said. “This is about what kind of university we want to study and work at and society we want to live in. These students are calling for the university to divest of its financial and political ties with genocide, an eminently reasonable request.”“This is not about the occupation of an office,” she said. “This is about what kind of university we want to study and work at and society we want to live in. These students are calling for the university to divest of its financial and political ties with genocide, an eminently reasonable request.”
Prof Joo-Cheong Tham, a researcher at the University of Melbourne’s law school and an assistant secretary at the National Tertiary Education Union, said disciplinary proceedings should only be taken in “the gravest of situations” given the “profound consequences it has on the student’s life and career”.Prof Joo-Cheong Tham, a researcher at the University of Melbourne’s law school and an assistant secretary at the National Tertiary Education Union, said disciplinary proceedings should only be taken in “the gravest of situations” given the “profound consequences it has on the student’s life and career”.
He said proportionate regulation of protests was justified, but workplace, health and safety laws already showed how to “strike a good balance” between freedom to protest and campus safety, adding that protest had been an established tradition at Australian universities since the 1960s.He said proportionate regulation of protests was justified, but workplace, health and safety laws already showed how to “strike a good balance” between freedom to protest and campus safety, adding that protest had been an established tradition at Australian universities since the 1960s.
“Most of the protest restrictions introduced at the University of Melbourne are an overreach because they fail to distinguish between peaceful protests and those that pose a real threat to safety,” he said.“Most of the protest restrictions introduced at the University of Melbourne are an overreach because they fail to distinguish between peaceful protests and those that pose a real threat to safety,” he said.
“The ham-fisted approach of the recent protest restrictions reflect a loss of faith in the University of Melbourne as an institution of dialogue, debate and disagreement.”“The ham-fisted approach of the recent protest restrictions reflect a loss of faith in the University of Melbourne as an institution of dialogue, debate and disagreement.”
Last year an Australian National University student who was expelled and a Deakin University student who was suspended for Palestine-related activism had those decisions overturned on appeal.Last year an Australian National University student who was expelled and a Deakin University student who was suspended for Palestine-related activism had those decisions overturned on appeal.