Jewish academic says Sydney Uni became ‘toxic’ after October 7 attacks

The academic leading a SafeWork NSW complaint alleging Sydney University failed to protect Jewish staff from “psychosocial harm” says she quit the institution after it became “toxic” following Hamas’ October 7 attacks.

Associate Professor Andy Smidt, who left the university in February, is the only named signatory on a dossier sent to the workplace regulator last week asking it to investigate the university and consider criminal charges if it does not comply with recommendations.

Professor Andy Smidt has lodged a SafeWork complaint alleging the vice chancellor failed to protect Jewish students from “psychosocial harm”.Credit: Edwina Pickles

Sydney University said it had been contacted by SafeWork NSW about the complaint and would fully co-operate with the regulator’s inquiries, including discussing its policies and procedures.

The complaint comes as the university’s vice chancellor, Mark Scott, faces increased political scrutiny over his handling of pro-Palestinian demonstrations on campus this year, including at a NSW budget estimates hearing last week.

Speaking publicly about the complaint for the first time, Smidt said Jewish staff and students were exhausted following the October 7 attacks and the pro-Palestinian encampment held by students on the university’s quadrangle lawn for two months.

“Every time they walk out of their office or cross campus, they risk being exposed to images, words, voices shouting hateful things,” she said.

“For some, they have had food thrown at them or shouted hateful things. For others it is a sense of not being able to let their guard down. It does not feel safe.”

The complaint listed claims of psychological harm, including calls for “intifada” – an Arabic word for uprising – on campus and a poster at encampment rallies with caricatures allegedly depicting well-known antisemitic tropes.

It also pointed to multiple slogans and images in the university’s well-known graffiti tunnel which included “From the Jordan River to the Mediterranean Sea”.

That chant is seen by the complainants and some Jewish groups as a “call for genocide” and the destruction of the Israeli state. Others see it as a call for freedom and equal rights for Palestinians.

The complaint said, despite numerous emails and meetings, the university had taken minimal action to protect Jewish staff and students from psychosocial harm.

A Sydney University spokeswoman said the institution was “absolutely committed” to academic freedom and freedom of speech, but condemned any form of racism, hate speech, threatening speech or unlawful harassment, including antisemitic or Islamophobic language or behaviour.

“We know this is an ongoing process, and we’ll continue consulting and working with our community on our approach to these critical matters,” she said.

The spokeswoman said the university had launched an independent review of its policies and processes, while increasing security and counselling support for students and staff and providing a requested dedicated gathering space for Jewish students.

She said university security had increased patrols of campus since October 7, and removed inappropriate signage and graffiti as part of its daily review, or when brought to its attention.

University of Sydney vice chancellor Professor Mark Scott.Credit: Michael Quelch

SafeWork NSW confirmed it had received the complaint, signed by 22 staff and students, and said its inspectors are responding to the matter.

National Tertiary Education Union branch president Nick Riemer, who has been heavily involved in pro-Palestinian activism on campus, said the suggestion there was an antisemitic climate on campus was “absurd”.

He said there was no credible evidence that anyone’s safety was ever infringed by pro-Palestine protests on campus and noted some Jewish people took part in the activism.

“On the contrary, staff and students who support Palestine have been hounded by the media and by Zionists,” he said.

“Opposition to particular states is not racism. When Western governments called for the break-up of the Soviet Union, people would have laughed if communists had tried to stop them because it made them feel unsafe.”

Smidt said she had been contemplating quitting Sydney University for some time, but the atmosphere became so “toxic” October 7 she felt she had no option but to leave.

“Very few of my close colleagues spoke to me after October 7th to see if I was OK,” she said.

“Many avoided eye contact or engaging with me.”

Smidt said being Jewish had felt uncomfortable at the university well before October 7.

“I was very involved in supporting the faculty to be inclusive to people with a disability and from varied cultural backgrounds,” she said.

“It was tricky to add Judaism in there. Compulsory meetings were scheduled on Jewish holidays.”

Mark Scott defended his response to the controversial encampment and allegations of antisemitism on campus to Liberal Susan Carter at a NSW budget estimates hearing last week.

“I’ve met a number of times … with Jewish students and staff and with Palestinian students and staff. I’ve never encountered an issue which has generated more grief and anguish, anger and concern as over the issues that are taking place in the Middle East now,” he said.

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