University of Melbourne: antisemitic motion is not the position of the university
The University of Melbourne has reacted to the anti-Zionist motion passed by the Students Council last week which also called for an academic boycott.
University of Melbourne
A spokesperson for the university told J-Wire: “The University of Melbourne Student Union (UMSU) is a self-governing body and operates as a separate entity to the University.
This anti-Semitic motion, narrowly passed in a vote by 16 members of the UMSU Students’ Council, is not the position of the University of Melbourne; nor is it one that is endorsed or supported by the University.
The University of Melbourne is deeply committed to the values of inclusion and respect, and all members of our community must feel welcome and safe from discrimination or racism. Any form of anti-Semitism is antithetical to who we are and what we stand for. Tackling it and its damaging effects is a responsibility of all members of our community.
Jewish students and staff are valued members of our University, along with our Jewish alumni and friends. We are proud of our relationships with the Jewish community in Australia and across the world, and our academic partnerships with Israeli universities and scholars.
Similarly, academic freedom and freedom of speech are core values of the University of Melbourne as outlined in our Freedom of Speech Policy, which applies to students, staff and visitors of the University. We expect all members of our community to exercise these rights respectfully.”
Peter Wertheim, co-CEO of ECAJ said: “We welcome the University’s acknowledgement that the UMSU resolution is indeed antisemitic, and that the resolution “is not the position of the University of Melbourne; nor is it one that is endorsed or supported by the University”. It is also heartening to note that the University has expressed pride in its academic partnerships with Israeli universities and scholars. This is a direct repudiation of the content of the resolution, and of BDS more generally.
The University has also confirmed its commitment to ensuring that Jewish students, like all other students, feel welcome and safe from discrimination or racism. This too is welcome, but if it is to be anything more than paying lip-service to a basic obligation then the University needs to take stronger action and formally endorse the IHRA Working Definition of Antisemitism.”
ZFA President Jeremy Leibler said, “We thank Melbourne University for its strong leadership on this matter. Given the antisemitic nature of the student union motion – which effectively denied the Jewish right to self-determination and redefined Judaism to suit its political purposes – this was the only responsible action the University could take. The statement sends an important message to Jewish students at Melbourne University that they are welcome and are free to express their Jewish identity without fear of intimidation.”
Mr Leibler continued, “We also urge the University to take the next step and adopt the IHRA working definition of antisemitism, as the federal government and opposition have done. Doing so would empower university staff and students to call out antisemitic conduct when it occurs and send a strong message of support and inclusion to Jewish students.”
Melbourne University called the student union motion antisemitic and repudiated the motion’s call for a boycott of Israeli universities and academics by saying how proud the University is of its partnerships with Israeli universities and scholars.
Daniel Aghion is president of The Jewish Community Council of Victoria told J-Wire: “We are grateful to the University of Melbourne for condemning the Student Union motion. The University has described the motion as antisemitic and antithetical to what the University stands for – and so it is. The University describes itself as having a proud tradition of collaborative research with Israeli institutions.
The strong and admirable stance of the University, in describing the motion passed by the Student Union as antisemitic and contrary to the University’s values of inclusion and respect, only goes to show how wrong the Student Union is. The motion should be rescinded immediately, before the Student Union causes any further embarrassment to itself.
We encourage the University to consider adopting the IHRA working definition of antisemitism. This would assist in providing the Union and others with guidance as to why it got this motion so wrong.”
Zeddy Lawrence, executive director of Zionism Victoria stated: “While the University of Melbourne cannot dictate policy to the Students Union, we welcome the leadership shown in its statement in which it is categorically stated, “Any form of antisemitism is antithetical to who we are and what we stand for. Tackling it and its damaging effects is a responsibility of all members of our community.”
We also welcome the support expressed for Jewish students and for academic partnerships with Israeli universities and scholars.
Nonetheless, the passage of the resolution by the student union shows why there is an urgent need for the University of Melbourne and all universities to adopt the IHRA definition of antisemitism.”
The Australia/Israel and Jewish Affairs Council welcomed Melbourne University’s statement on the motion passed last week by the University of Melbourne Student Union (UMSU) in support of the racist BDS campaign. The UMSU motion also included multiple false statements about Israel.
AIJAC Executive Director Dr Colin Rubenstein said: “This anti-semitic motion… is not the position of the University of Melbourne; nor is it one that is endorsed or supported by the University,” the University’s statement said. “The University of Melbourne is deeply committed to the values of inclusion and respect, and all members of our community must feel welcome and safe from discrimination or racism. Any form of anti-Semitism is antithetical to who we are and what we stand for. Tackling it and its damaging effects is a responsibility of all members of our community.”
He added: “We gratefully welcome the University’s principled statement on the motion and especially the fact that the University has correctly identified the appalling UMSU motion as antisemitic.
“AIJAC would also welcome any further steps the University could take to prevent a repeat of this travesty. Chief among these would be for the University to adopt the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance Working Definition of Antisemitism.
We hope other universities have taken note of this matter, and will also speedily adopt the Working Definition to try to prevent similar events occurring on their campuses.”
Yes, the University of Melbourne’s adoption of the IHRA definition of antisemitism would go a long way to countermand this decision of the Student Council. To back the statements they have just made with this action would make their policy stronger than just words.
I always understood on reading of the Student Union’s aberrant, ignorant stance that the University itself was not involved. Still, it needs to be addressed. Although the university cannot interfere with Student Union voting, students of the University of Melbourne must surely have to adhere to the university’s ideals and mode of operation. Otherwise, let them find somewhere else to ‘study