University of Sydney colleges accused of blocking students from greyhound events
Colleges at the University of Sydney have been accused of intimidating students into avoiding a Greyhounds NSW event at Wentworth Park with organisers claiming young people were bullied.
University of Sydney colleges have been accused of bullying and intimidating students after encouraging a boycott of greyhound racing.
As the sport attempts to reshape its image following a turbulent few years for the industry, Greyhounds NSW is hosting a series of Friday night events complete with a DJ, hot tub, photo booth and mechanical bull at Wentworth Park.
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A bus was organised to transport students to and from the university to the park, while students in colleges such as St Paul’s and St Andrew’s helped to organise the events.
However, Sancta Sophia College principal Fiona Hastings sent a message on Thursday to students stressing that the college was strongly opposed to the greyhounds event and asked people not to go.
Greyhounds NSW chief executive officer Tony Mestrov claimed he’d heard some students had been blocked from attending.
“It was wrong that students felt intimidated and felt like they couldn’t get on the bus in front of college staff,” he said.
“I would have thought that universities encouraged free thinking and independent decision making rather than a form of bullying.”
St Paul’s and St Andrew’s colleges were contacted for comment yesterday.
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