University students to skip class for pro-Palestinian protest with no penalty

Jewish leaders say pro-Palestinian student protesters ‘should be expelled, not given a platform for hate’ after it was revealed Sydney University is allowing ‘brief’ protests in classes.

UNI students are being allowed to skip classes without penalty to attend pro-Palestinian protests in Sydney on Thursday - while Jewish groups have slammed Sydney University as “disgraceful and cowardly” for officially allowing student protesters to disrupt classes if they want to “make a brief statement”.

Activists are calling on high school and university students to play truant and attend a “Strike for Palestine” demonstration planned outside the Sydney’s Town Hall at 2pm.

At the University of Technology, Sydney (UTS), staff have been told the university will not penalise students ditching lectures due to “social justice” reasons.

“Staff have been asked to make sure that where students miss a class due to participation in the strike, they are not disadvantaged,” an official note to staff says.

“The University has agreed to this request in the context of the social impact framework, under which UTS supports the rights of staff and students to work towards social justice, advocate for causes they believe in, and voice their opinions freely without fear of reprisal.

Sydney University directive to staff allowing student disruptions in class. Picture: Supplied.

“For the university to remain a community focused on learning, growth and social justice, it is imperative that all within the community feel free to express their views, noting that this needs to be done respectfully at all times.”

At Sydney University, a note to teachers and academics warned there may be “attempted disruption of classes” over coming weeks, and if possible, ignore disruptions.

The Cornerstone Cafe at UTS has come under fire from Jewish groups over its pro-Palestinian signs, making Jewish students feel unwelcome. Picture: Supplied

“Verbal confrontation or arguments are not advised and could escalate and prolong disruption,” the official advice states.

“If the protester(s) wish to make a brief statement, you can allow them to do so before resuming the class.”

But the Australian Jewish Association said Jewish students are being made to feel increasingly unwelcome and it appeared the university was bending over backwards

to accommodate students who want to protest against Israel.

“The guidelines given by the University of Sydney to their staff are disgraceful and cowardly,” chief executive Robert Gregory said.

ECAJ Co-CEO Alex Ryvchin says UTS is showing a “callous disregard for the welfare of its Jewish students and staff”. John Feder/The Australian.

The Cornerstone Cafe at UTS has come under fire from Jewish groups over its pro-Palestinian signs, making Jewish students feel unwelcome. Picture: Supplied

“Complete disregard is shown to students who come to university to actually attend class and learn.

“We have now heard from many Jewish students who feel extremely unwelcome in this toxic environment.

“At a time of surging antisemitism, the correct response is to combat it, not to surrender to it. Protesters should be prevented from disrupting studies and expelled, not given a platform by the university to spread hate.”

“Many students make great sacrifices to attend university and face large HECS loans, so they would be justified in expecting refunds when the university allows them to be subjected to hateful protests in the classroom.”

Executive Council of Australian Jewry co chief executive Alex Ryvchin said it was “immensely distressing” to Jewish students to know their colleagues will march in support of Hamas with chants of “violent, genocidal slogans that are a feature of these rallies, and doing so with the blessing of the university”

He also raised the issue of a cafe within UTS called Cornerstone Cafe UTS which has a pro-Palestinian display including a sign stating “Our cafe is 14,121km away from Jerusalem the Capital of Palestine” and another sign saying it had removed Coca Cola and Pepsi and replaced them with “more sustainable alternatives” above a Palestinian flag.

Australian Jewish Association chief executive Robert Gregory says many students make great sacrifices to attend university and face large HECS loans.

“These performative, self-important antics show that pro-Palestine activism is simply a way of intimidating and excluding Jewish students,” Mr Ryvchin said.

“The licence to the cafe operator should be immediately terminated.

“We are receiving a large number of inquiries from Jewish students distraught at the way other students and academic staff are defiling their place of learning with their propaganda.

“Universities have a legal and moral obligation to ensure they are welcoming and accessible to all students.

“Knowing that their colleagues will be marching in support of Hamas and chanting the violent, genocidal slogans that are a feature of these rallies, and doing so with the blessing of the university, will be immensely distressing for Jewish staff and students.

A Sydney University spokeswoman said the students had a “long history of using campus for political debate and protest, and we’re committed to respecting their right to express their opinions while also ensuring our teaching and learning can proceed safely and with as little disruption as possible”.

“Our community comes from a wide range of diverse backgrounds and we strongly support their right to express their opinions and political views including those that some may consider controversial or offensive – as long as it is done safely and in accordance with the law, and other reasonable limits set out in our Charter of Freedom of Speech and Academic Freedom.” She did not clarify if students could get out of being penalised for skipping class.

A UTS spokeswoman said they advised students that if they want to attend the demo during class time, “they should discuss with their course convener to avoid being penalised – advice which is consistent with our previous approaches to national student strikes”.

The University of NSW was asked if students could attend protests without penalty, but refused to say.

“UNSW asks all students and staff to respect different views and opinions on campus,” a spokeswoman said.

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