University of Melbourne issues misconduct notices to Arts West building pro-Palestine protesters

The Herald Sun understands about 10 students at the University of Melbourne are facing disciplinary action. Monash, Deakin and La Trobe have also issued notices.

Students from four Melbourne universities are facing expulsion after attending pro-Palestine protests.

The University of Melbourne has issued academic misconduct notices to pro-Palestine protesters who occupied a major Arts building last month.

The Herald Sun has confirmed the university sent out notices to students via email on Wednesday, which included CCTV stills of them in the Arts West building and dates for forthcoming misconduct hearings.

The Student Conduct Policy outlines a multitude of potential consequences, with suspension and expulsion as potential outcomes.

During the 10-day sit-in, dozens of protesters camped in tents inside the faculty building, refusing to leave until the university met their demands.

The Herald Sun understands about 10 students at the University of Melbourne are facing disciplinary action.

Other universities including Monash University are understood to have issued nine notices, while Deakin and La Trobe have handed out two each.

Pro Palestine protesters occupy an Arts building at Melbourne University. Picture: David Crosling

The university had worked closely with police to remove them.

Thousands of students also had their studies disrupted amid classes being cancelled due to security fears.

Students ended their occupation of the building in late May after the university agreed to disclose all research partnerships with weapons manufacturers.

In a statement from Unimelb for Palestine on Instagram, the group called for support to prevent disciplinary action by signing its online Change.org petition.

“We, the community, condemn these threats and intimidation made by the University of Melbourne to these brave students and staff, who have been peacefully calling for disclosure and divestment of the University of Melbourne’s ties to weapons manufacturers supplying Israeli Occupation Forces,” the petition said.

“These students face potential failure of their semester and potential expulsion, and yet will still accumulate thousands in HECS debt.”

Meanwhile, Monash University said it was committed to considering all formal reports of student general misconduct related to protest activity, including those arising from incidents at the encampment on May 6 to 8.

“The University takes all complaints seriously. We are reviewing and investigating the complaints in line with our policies and procedures, which has resulted in a number of formal notices of student misconduct being issued,” the university said in a statement.

A University of Melbourne spokeswoman said the tertiary institution was currently progressing a range of matters in relation to student conduct.

“The university will not comment on individual matters, in line with our confidentiality requirements and our commitment to procedural fairness under university policy,” she said.

“The university is in direct communication with individuals as required in relation to these matters.”

Students ended their occupation of the building in late May. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

Tent cities had last month cropped up across lawns at five Victorian universities when the global student movement by pro-Palestine supporters ramped up across the world.

While Australia avoided much of the violence which has broken out at encampments in the US and Europe, the local versions were not without controversy with former treasurer Josh Frydenberg labelling them “campus camps of hate”.

Deakin University became the first uni in Australia to order the immediate dismantling of an encampment when it ordered the closure of a protest site on its Burwood campus.

Pro-Palestine protesters had also gathered on Monash University’s College Lawn last month to protest against a Jewish event commemorating Israeli victims of terror.

In a statement from La Trobe University, it said the tertiary institution was continuing to progress a general misconduct process that was initiated when protest organisers failed to follow a formal direction of the university under our obligations to ensure the health and safety of our community.

“La Trobe has a clear and transparent Student Conduct Management Policy,” a university spokesperson said.

“The peaceful removal of the encampment – albeit outside of the university deadline – will be taken into account by the General Misconduct Officer in their consideration of the matter, though it is important that the integrity of our conduct process is upheld and progressed to an outcome.

“We are not in a position to provide further information while this process is underway.”

Deakin university has been contacted for comment.