ID cards confiscated as University of Sydney gets tough on outsiders at Gaza protest camp

The University of Sydney has cracked down on pro-Palestine protesters sharing their ID cards with outsiders at their Gaza encampment, in a bid to restrict bathroom access for blow-ins.

University of Sydney protest camp blow-ins have been warned they could face prosecution for trespassing if found using student IDs to sneak into toilets.

But a crackdown on students sharing swipe cards with outsiders has been described as “a war of attrition” by encampment organisers.

About 30 students are bunkering down each night on the university lawns, joined by an unknown number of pro-Palestine protesters from political groups and other local universities, including UNSW and UTS, on a rotating roster.

A small number have been caught lending out their ID cards to allow outsiders to access facilities behind locked doors – including the Fisher Library directly across from the encampment – despite “repeated directions” not to do so.

“We have repeatedly directed protesters not to share their student or staff ID cards with visitors to campus,” Vice-Chancellor Mark Scott wrote in an email to all staff and students.

The pro-Palestine encampment at the University of Sydney has grown substantially over the past three weeks. Picture: Richard Dobson

“Individuals who have been found to have shared their ID cards have had their cards confiscated and will be subject to misconduct proceedings.”

Some protesters have resorted to trudging down to the Broadway Shopping Centre for their overnight ablutions.

Protester Deaglan Godwin hands a first aid kit from the supply tent to one of his comrades. Picture: Richard Dobson

A University of Sydney spokeswoman declined to reveal the number of ID suspensions, but confirmed the encampment had been joined by people, including speakers, from outside the university community.

“While members of the public are welcome on our campus … anyone who engages in unacceptable conduct may be requested by a University representative to leave,” she said.

“(T)his includes unauthorised access to buildings or use of student or staff cards and we reserve the right to withdraw permission for them to access our campuses. The police or other regulators may also choose to prosecute.

“For the safety of our whole community, access arrangements to toilets and facilities on campus – including Fisher Library – remain in line with our normal operations: these facilities are typically open access during business hours and have access restrictions in place after hours.”

An email from the university to students telling them to stop sharing IDs with non students so they can stay in the pro Palestine encampment. Photo: Supplied

Bathroom ban a ‘war of attrition’ on Gaza ‘solidarity’ camp

On Monday many of the dozens of tents now scattered across the sandstone university’s iconic lawns lay empty, their semi-regular occupants at work or studying somewhere with electricity.

A lone Israeli flag, twinned with the Australian flag, had been hung from the Quadrangle’s ramparts by counter-protesters.

Most of the encampment’s pro-Palestine protesters come and go, with only a small number of diehards enduring three weeks of rain, wind and freezing temperatures for days on end.

(May 20) A lone Israeli flag twinned with an Australian flag has been strung up on the ramparts above the Gaza encampment. The area had been taped off. Picture: Richard Dobson

(May 18) High winds knocked down tents and gazebos at the encampment on Friday night. Picture: NewsWire / Damian Shaw

24-year-old art history student and Students for Palestine organiser Deaglan Godwin said amid the harsh weather, morale at the camp has been “buoyed” by support from the broader community, including the food donations continually pouring in.

“When the wind and the rain is lashing down, then at 9:30 at night somebody rocks up with a pot of warm semolina pudding, that really keeps you going,” he said.

Encampment leader Deaglan Godwin in his tent. Deaglan has been camped at the University – on and off – since day one. Picture: Richard Dobson

Mr Godwin said the administration’s decision to lock out supporters from outside the University of Sydney – including by barring a visiting mum and her young child from the library – has been “disappointing”.

“It’s simply because the want to try and mobilise every means to wear us down, and make this into a war of attrition.”

‘Pitiful’: Sydney Uni boss slammed for weak apology over protests

Vice-Chancellor Mark Scott appeared on Sydney radio on Monday morning, apologising for the encampment making students and staff feel “unsafe”, but said that the police would not be called in to remove the protesters.

“We’re working around the clock to make the university as safe as it can be for staff and for students, and I understand that for some of our staff and our students it is upsetting that there is an encampment here,” he said.

Sydney University Vice Chancellor Mark Scott on the grounds of Sydney University. Picture John Grainger

“I suppose I’d say to them I’m sorry that they feel upset that the encampment is there.”

However Mr Scott said that the University of Sydney would not go “down the United States route, (where) they’ve tried to clean out the encampments and that has triggered terrible violence”.

“I would rather it be gone … but peaceful protest has been part of the culture of this university and other universities for hundreds of years.”

His apology was quickly taken to task by Alex Ryvchin, co-CEO of the Executive Council of Australian Jewry, who described the Vice-Chancellor’s comparison between anti-Israel activists and Vietnam War protesters as “extremely disappointing”.

“Their slogans are battle cries and their ideology is closer to Nazism than nonviolent resistance … hearing (Scott) speak about negotiating with these people while Jewish students and activists stay off campus is pitiful,” he said.

Protests in support of Gaza have spread to about 50 US universities and are now in four Australian universities, with students committed to permanently occupying university land until their demands for divestment are met. Picture: NewsWire / Monique Harmer

“I would rather it be gone … but peaceful protest has been part of the culture of this university and other universities for hundreds of years.”

Last week, it was reported that University of Sydney Professor Peter Morgan had his campus had been stormed by masked pro-Palestinian protesters.

Prof Morgan said it was a case of “left-wing anti-Semitism masquerading as political beliefs” and said “the university has effectively encouraged this behaviour.”

Mr Scott said that he had discussed the incident with Prof Morgan and it was “a very isolated incident” adding “full disciplinary action” would be taken by those responsible.

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