UQ protest camps given told to discontinue after weeks of major disruptions to classes, lectures

University of Queensland students in protest camps are refusing to leave claiming they are unaware of a decision to “discontinue” that came from the vice-chancellor following weeks of fiery rallys.

• Opinion: Appalling failure of uni leadership

University of Queensland students involved in protesting camps say they “aren’t going anywhere” despite being issued with a notice to “discontinue” as soon as possible, following weeks of issues on campus.

It comes after UQ vice-chancellor Deborah Terry convened a meeting late on Thursday night to discuss the bitterly divided encampments on campus as tensions flared.

In light of recent protests, the university reaffirmed its commitment to freedom of expression as a foundational principle but noted that this freedom “did not extend to actions on University land that disrupted the orderly business of the University or posed a risk to the safety of staff or students”.

“Nor did freedom of expression extend to speech intended or likely to humiliate, intimidate, harass or bully another person,” a statement released by the University of Queensland said.

“Anti-Semitism and other hate speech has no place on our campus.”

Professor Deborah Terry confirmed the protesters would discontinue. Picture: John Gass

Member of Students for Palestine and UQ student Liam Parry however, said the university had failed to communicate with his group of the decision to evict protesters from campus.

“To be honest this is news to us; as far as I know the university hasn’t told us that we need to shut down,” Mr Parry said.

“I know the university doesn’t like the existence of the camps - they have said that - but they haven’t told us that we need to shut down at all.

“From our perspective we have freedom of speech and the ability to continue protesting.

“We’re definitely not going to leave.

“We aren’t going anywhere.”

UQ Students for Palestine representatives Ella Gutteridge and Liam Parry say they’re not leaving. Picture: David Clark

Idan Benesch, an Israeli-Australian student at UQ and member of pro-Israeli Camp Shalom, said his organisation will respect the move order, saying that a non-confrontational end to the protest was the best outcome for all.

“I feel like this is the best thing for the university, for students and for our encampment as well,” Mr Benesch said.

“I was at lunch the other day minding my own business with other students and it was disrupted.”

“I know that the point of a protest is disruption but at a university where there’s a bunch of tired students having their brain bombarded with information all the time and then during their one peaceful moment of lunch a protest starts out.

“It just isn’t nice for any students.

“I feel like being asked to leave by the university is something we will respect.”

Committee members expressed their concern that the “continuation of encampments might pose a risk of disruptions” to the university and the safety of staff and students.

Pro-Palestine students at University of Queensland campus. Picture: David Clark

University of Queensland vice-chancellor, Deborah Terry, has advised on Friday protesters to discontinue.

“The University is continuing to engage with nominated protest representatives to agree to a peaceful resolution to the current camp arrangements,” Ms Terry said in a statement today.

“Today, we have advised protest organisers, as well as staff and students, that the University intends to remain in regular contact to ensure we minimise disruption to core university activities, particularly with the upcoming exam period.

“The University will continue to ensure that we take appropriate action where there are incidents that do not align with our codes of conduct as we make every effort to progress a peaceful resolution.”

Yoni Nazarathy, an Associate Professor at The University of Queensland, said Camp Shalom would be removed tomorrow.

“It is now confirmed within the group that we will transition the camp out of UQ into the virtual space to respect UQ’s request and to enable our students to do well in their upcoming exam period,” Mr Nazarathy said.

Students for Palestine group have been contact for comment.

Tensions at UQ exploded on Thursday after pro-Palestinian protesters stormed the campus, forcing a lockdown, disrupting classes.

Controversial political activist Drew Pavlou was seen clashing with a Palestinian supporter who put a “Jewish sticker” on his bag and pushed him, with security forced to intervene.

“I confronted the crowd and denounced anti-Semitism at which point a man who was not a student tried to push me backwards,” Mr Pavlou said.

Security blocked entrances to the occupied building and stopped students from entering to attend scheduled classes.

Drew Pavlou has an altercation with pro-Palestinian protesters. Picture: David Clark

The rally held at the St Lucia campus is just one in the latest spate of pro-Palestinian protests at Australian universities, where student activists have taken over the Arts West building at the University of Melbourne and Monash University has threatened to expel students over encampment misconduct.

Meanwhile Deakin University has made a second order to remove encampments from its Burwood campus and the Australian National University in Canberra has become the second university to request students to vacate encampments by Friday.

A UQ spokeswoman acknowledged the disruptions to classes and said the uni is continuing to proactively engage with protest organisers.

“Access to the building was temporarily restricted when the protest commenced, and noise caused some disruptions to teaching,” the spokeswoman said.

“The university is continuing to proactively engage with protest organisers to agree a peaceful resolution to the protest camps, and as part of this, the vice-chancellor met with both groups last Friday.”

Pro-Palestinian protesters at University of Queensland, Picture: David Clark

Professor Yoni Nazarathy said Thursday’s chants of “out, out, Israel, out” were particularly hurtful.

“Israeli expats such as myself interpret them as calling us to leave,” Mr Nazarathy said. “I and the others have officially complained to the university about this language, and I expect the university to treat such harassment very seriously.”

National Tertiary Education Union secretary Michael McNally has thrown support behind students.

“Our members support the rights of all students to engage in peaceful political protest,” Mr McNally said.

“UQ’s policies are very clear that these camps are allowed, if not encouraged, by the university and hopefully they will let the protests continue. We would not support any forcible removal of any peaceful protesters.”

It came as Opposition Leader Peter Dutton wrote to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Thursday, calling for an urgent judicial inquiry into anti-Semitism at Australian uni campuses.

“University authorities have repeatedly failed to create an environment where Jewish staff and students can work free of harassment and intimidation,” the letter said.

“We believe a judicial inquiry will provide the best way to achieve a broader cultural change in the university sector.” 

Pro-Palestinian protesters stormed the UQ calling for an open meeting with the Vice Chancellor. Picture: David Clark

Pro-Palestinian protesters at University of Queensland. Picture: David Clark