Jewish Campus Taskforce to be reinstated for Semester 2
The Jewish Community Council of Victoria (JCCV) continues to address antisemitism on university campuses.
Naomi Levin
Last semester, the Jewish Community Council of Victoria (JCCV) coordinated the Victorian Jewish Campus Taskforce, bringing CSG, AUJS, The Australian Academic Alliance Against Antisemitism, and the Zionist Federation of Australia to provide support to Jewish students and staff across university campuses.
Following its success, the Jewish Campus Taskforce will be reinstated ahead of Semester 2.
Through the taskforce, efforts were focused on developing a consistent message regarding antisemitism reporting, responding swiftly to student leaders’ calls for assistance, and bolstering support for AUJS, which has been at the forefront of addressing these challenges.
In recent weeks, CSG has released a critical report detailing instances of antisemitism during Semester One on Victorian university campuses.
The report not only presents comprehensive data but also highlights the profound impact of these incidents on Jewish students.
Additionally, the JCCV has played a proactive role in supporting a Jewish victim of assault at a local university by facilitating communication between the individual and Victoria Police. The victim had previously faced obstacles in advancing their case, and thanks to JCCV’s assistance, there has been notable progress.
“While it is a daunting time for many Jewish students and staff, our message is unequivocal,” said Naomi Levin, JCCV CEO. “Firstly, we urge anyone who encounters antisemitic hate speech, graffiti, or incidents to report them promptly to university hotlines and to CSG. Without reports, effective action cannot be taken.
“Secondly, support services provided by the JCCV and CSG are readily available for those unsure of how to proceed,” she said.
She added that the JCCV remains committed to ensuring the safety and well-being of Jewish individuals on campus and calls upon university administrations and the broader community to join in these efforts.
The CGS report stated that “Where identified, the perpetrators of serious incidents, such as assault, threats, or verbal abuse, were overwhelmingly individuals unaffiliated to the university at which the incident happened, supporting the hypothesis that outside agitators are driving an unsafe environment for Jewish students on campus.”
They added: “The CSG is confident that the longer encampments exist on campus, the more violent they are likely to become, especially during the first three weeks – a finding which is supported by evidence from overseas encampments.”
