Sydney University responds to claim of ‘racist campaign’ on campus
The University of Sydney has responded to a workplace claim filed by several Jewish employees, alleging “psychosocial harm” due to a “vicious, racist campaign” on campus.
Mark Scott Pic: “X”
The claim, submitted to SafeWork NSW, also seeks criminal sanctions against Vice-Chancellor Mark Scott for allegedly failing to safeguard the wellbeing of Jewish staff and students.
Co-signed by some non-Jewish staff, the claim asserts that the university environment has become unsafe for Jewish individuals. “We have been reporting psychosocial hazards at the workplace to the university since October 7th, 2023,” the claim reads, adding that the university should have taken steps to mitigate the foreseeable harm as tensions on campus escalated.
In response to the claim, a university spokesperson noted that the university had not yet been contacted by SafeWork regarding the matter. However, the spokesperson acknowledged the distress felt by many in the community.
The spokesperson emphasised that the safety of staff and students remains the university’s top priority. “When the encampment was first established, we quickly put in place additional measures to help students and staff move around the campus safely, including increased security and personal escorts when requested.”
Tensions at the university intensified during the pro-Palestine encampment protest held on the Quad lawns from April to June, which has been linked to rising reports of antisemitism. Jewish students reported feeling unsafe, describing parts of the campus as “no-go zones” due to fears of harassment and intimidation.
To address these concerns, the university introduced a new Campus Access Policy to clarify expectations for conduct. An independent external review of policies and processes has also been commissioned to ensure a safe environment for all members of the university community. “Throughout these challenging times, we have been very clear about our expectations of behaviour. We monitor all breaches of relevant policies and take action, when necessary,” the university spokesperson said.
The claim submitted to SafeWork NSW details several incidents that allegedly contributed to the harm, including protests calling for “intifada,” graffiti referencing “Jewish genocide,” violent posters, and a Student Representative Council motion that reportedly endorsed violence against Jews.
Vice-Chancellor Mark Scott is named in the claim for allegedly failing to fulfill his duty to protect the psychological safety of Jewish staff and students. The claim calls for criminal sanctions against Scott and requests an investigation into antisemitic behaviour by students and staff.
In response to broader concerns about hate speech, the university spokesperson reaffirmed its commitment to inclusivity: “We remain absolutely committed to academic freedom and freedom of speech, and we condemn any form of racism, hate speech, threatening speech, or unlawful harassment, including antisemitic or Islamophobic language or behaviour.”
The university has encouraged anyone who has experienced or witnessed harassment to report it, assuring the community that appropriate actions will be taken. “We take all complaints extremely seriously,” the spokesperson said, adding that wellbeing support is available for those affected.
Professor Scott is expected to address the claim when he appears before the NSW budget estimates committee later this week. In the meantime, the university has indicated it will continue to consult with the community on managing the complex and divisive issues that have surfaced on campus.
Wherever Scott has gone…..Jews/israel has suffered.
So much for all the blah, blah,blah