La Trobe Uni staff given green light to let pro-Palestine supporters talk in class

Staff at La Trobe University have been told to let encampment protesters disrupt classes to allow them to “share the information they wish to”.

Staff at La Trobe University have been told not to intervene when protesters disrupt their classrooms and allow them to “share the information they wish to”.

It comes as tensions reached boiling point at two Victorian universities on Tuesday as Palestine and Israel supporters clashed at “solidarity with Gaza” encampments, leaving one staff member with cuts and bruises.

Students at Deakin University and La Trobe University launched their “camp for Palestine” following similar ongoing demonstrations held at Monash University and the University of Melbourne last week and RMIT on Monday.

The Victorian universities have joined a global student movement where pro-Palestine supporters are calling on tertiary institutions to cut ties with companies associated with weapon manufacturing and Israel.

An email sent to La Trobe University staff by Provost Professor Robert Pike on Wednesday morning said it had come to the university’s attention that student protests may target on campus classes.

“If protesters enter your classes, we would ask that you refrain from intervening and allow them to share the information they wish to,” the email said.

“If they stay for longer than five minutes, we request that you notify security.”

Professor Pike said if classes were significantly disrupted, or if staff and students did not feel comfortable continuing the session, they had the option to cancel the class and reschedule.

“If during protest activity you are concerned by the language or behaviour of protesters please report the matter to the Safer Community.”

Israel and Palestine supporters clashed at Deakin University’s Burwood campus on Tuesday.

Professor Pike said the university was monitoring the impact of protest activity on students and teaching activities.

“Please also remind your students that they can access wellbeing support by contacting the Student Wellbeing team,” he added.

A spokeswoman for La Trobe University said the email was sent out to staff to help them feel “more confident” in how to approach potential protest activity in their classes.

“La Trobe supports the rights of students to protest peacefully,” she said.

“In line with our university policies, we will not accept significant disruption of lectures and classes where other students are studying.

“Our protest has been peaceful, we have received no reports of concerning behaviours from protesters or disruption to lectures to date. We are liaising with protest organisers to enable peaceful and safe protest.”

While most Victorian demonstrations have been civil so far, scenes at Deakin and Monash universities took a violent turn when opposing protesters collided.

Deakin employee Yotam Barazani was silently protesting on the steps of the Morgan’s Walk stage at the university’s Burwood Campus, when he was targeted by pro-Palestine supporters because of a sign he was holding.

“I’m Jewish, I’m from Israel, I was an IDF (Israel Defence Force) soldier. I have been to Gaza, I’ve met with many Palestinians, I want peace for all. Let’s talk,” his sign said.

Mr Barazani said he had his sign ripped out of his hands, prompting him to take a pro-Palestine poster in response, before he was set upon by the opposing group.

“I was shoved over and over until I was shoved to the ground which resulted in scrapes to my leg and bleeding from my hand. I was shoved down a ramp,” he said.

“As it was happening I was scared and sad. I came with a peaceful message which resulted in me being assaulted and not having a chance to talk to them.”

Pro-Palestine supporters from Deakin University set up their encampment on Tuesday on the lawn near Morgan’s Walk.

Meanwhile other Jewish students at the university told the Herald Sun they’re avoiding attending campus because they didn’t feel safe among those who shared pro-Palestine views.

“I feel genuinely unsafe, there’s no place for people like me on campus and you have to hide your Jewishness,” she said.

“I’ve chemically straightened my hair to get rid of the Jew curls and I try to dress in a certain way and (have changed) how I present myself.”

A student leader at the university added the rallies were frustrating for those who were trying to study on campus, especially when protesters entered buildings and the library.

“We’re three weeks out from exam season and this is what students have to put up with. Students are trying to study, do online classes, some of them take meetings in there, as well and then they have (protesters) disrupt them” she said.

“It’s not fair. It’s not right. They say peaceful protesting but where’s the line for peaceful protesting?”

A Victoria Police spokeswoman said police are investigating reports of an altercation at the Burwood campus.

“It was reported that a man and a woman had an altercation at a university campus on Burwood Highway about 12:25pm,” she said.

“Police are investigating the incident and inquiries are ongoing.”

A Deakin University spokesman said the university does not tolerate unacceptable language or behaviour that breaches its code of conduct.

“Deakin is aware that some protesters behaved in an utterly unacceptable way on Tuesday afternoon at our Burwood Campus,” he said.

“Threatening behaviour and hate speech was observed and recorded being used by protesters towards other members of the University community.

“The University is investigating these incidents and will take all available action.”

Deakin employee Yotam Barazani was left with bloody cuts after he was set upon.

His sign was also torn in the ordeal.

Over at Monash University, students were confronted with the sight of a student decked out in the Israeli flag sitting in the Clayton campus Forum Lawn in the middle of a Palestinian encampment.

The student sat on the ground with his head in his hands while security guards in high-viz vests surrounded the protest.

A banner demanded the university “disclose, divest and rescind” ties with Israel and weapons companies.

The situation on campus is volatile after pro-Israeli students allegedly tore down a pro-Palestinian students’ sign.

The Palestinian students have issued a Call for Action for next Monday at 5.30pm, with an online post saying: “Students and community say Zionists and IOF not welcome on campus.”

The students are claiming online that they are “occupying Monash for Gaza”.

Monash University has also responded to a circulating social media post stating that “Zionists are not welcome” on its campuses, deeming the content “harassment and vilification.”

A spokesperson for the University said it was “taking action accordingly,” and had requested the relevant social media platforms remove the “unacceptable posts.”

“When considering where to draw a line between free speech and speech that can justifiably be limited, the distinction is not one of offence.

“We have laws (both in Victoria and federally) that draw a distinction between speech that harms and speech that, however offensive, does not. Speech that does harm includes expressions that constitute vilification or harassment.”

Anti-Defamation Commission Chair Dr Dvir Abramovich said he feared anti-Semitism at universities is “spiralling out of control”.

“This latest incident of violence is a direct result of the incitement and stoking of hostility against Jewish students that is escalating by the day, and I am concerned that this atmosphere of extremism will end in tragedy,” he said.

A Victoria Police spokeswoman said authorities have been in regular communication with universities amid the planned protests.

“All universities have expressed their desire to allow their students to conduct peaceful demonstrations on university land without police intervention,” she said.

“We will continue to liaise with the universities moving forward.”

A Monash University spokesman said the university’s security team was present on-site and available 24/7 and will take any appropriate measures if the need arises.