Melbourne Uni warns students police could enter campus, Monash camp disbands

University of Melbourne has warned students police could attend campus at any time to restore order, but have so far held off from calling for support to remove pro-Palestinian protesters.

On the third day of a stand-off between university administration and protesters who entered the Arts West building and refused to leave, the university reiterated its concern that the situation was unsafe.

Protesting students gather outside the Arts West building at University of Melbourne on Friday afternoon for a press conference.Credit: Joe Armao

A spokesperson said the university was “deeply concerned by this occupation” and was continuing to work closely with police in response to the ongoing protest.

“This occupation presents a significant safety risk to our students and staff members, and has resulted in damage to university property,” the spokesperson said.

“In order to observe and maintain public order, Victoria Police may choose to attend campus at any time.”

However, Victoria Police has made clear it has not had a complaint from the university about the protests and would not remove anyone from private property without a formal report of trespass.

“At this stage Victoria Police has not been requested to intervene or remove any protesters,” police said in a statement on Thursday night.

On Friday, La Trobe became the latest university to issue a direction to students camping on its Bundoora campus to pack up and leave.

A spokesperson said that although the protests had been relatively peaceful, the university had considered the risks associated with the encampment and decided the protesters must go.

The encampment at Monash University’s Clayton campus was packed up with little resistance on Friday afternoon.

A university spokesperson said protesters had agreed that staff and security could help them pack up and end the encampment.

However, Monash protester Madeline Curkovic said that while the campers had agreed to leave, they had not planned to do so on Friday.

She said the university had forcibly dismantled the camp despite some students telling them to stop.

“We are going to rally next Tuesday at 1pm in solidarity with those in Rafah and against the actions of the university,” Curkovic said.

Melbourne University rescheduled classes at the Parkville campus building for a third day owing to what it says is unmanageable disruption.

The student protesters argue they have not stopped anyone entering the building and disrupting classes is not their intention.

Third-year history student Mercedes Scott said calling in police to clear the sit-in would be an overreaction by the university.

“It’s a completely peaceful protest, we’re not disrupting classes. We haven’t blocked any doors, security, cleaning, staff members, students, they’re all allowed in the building,” Scott said.

“Calling police on a peaceful protest is not reasonable – it’s an intimidation tactic, it’s a threat, but we’re going to stand our ground.”

Scott, who is taking part in the sit-in, said a number of students agreed to escalate their protest by moving inside on Wednesday. Scott said before the sit-in, the university had refused to meet organisers from the UniMelb for Palestine group, which has been camping out on the South Lawn for three weeks.

The group is demanding the university end research partnerships with weapons manufacturers Lockheed Martin, Boeing and BAE Systems, which they say are profiting from Israel’s bombardment of Gaza.

Protesters renamed the Arts West building Mahmoud Hall in honour of Palestinian student Mahmoud Alnaouq, who they say intended to study at Melbourne University on a scholarship this year but was killed alongside 19 family members in Gaza on October 20.

Protesters have renamed the Arts West building Mahmoud Hall, in honour of a Palestinian student who they say intended to study at Melbourne University on a scholarship this year but was killed in Gaza on October 20.Credit: Justin McManus

More than 35,000 people have died in Gaza since the war began in October, according to Hamas officials.

Tensions on university campuses around the country have been mounting in recent weeks as tent cities of students protesting against Israel’s military action in Gaza grow. On some occasions, the encampments have attracted counterprotesters supportive of Israel’s action in response to the Hamas terrorist attacks of October 7.

University of Melbourne deputy vice chancellor Michael Wesley said on Thursday a “significant proportion” of demonstrators occupying the building were neither students nor staff and that a group of “professional activists” was influencing the campus protest.

The university has issued an order for anyone not affiliated with the university to leave the campus.

A Melbourne University poster that states members of the public are prohibited from attending protests on university grounds.Credit: Alex Crowe

The spokesperson said on Friday that the university was concerned about the escalation and disruptive intent of some, including “external actors”.

“There is no doubt that this group has under-estimated their intimidatory impact on members of our community,” they said.

The campus was quiet on Friday morning with protesters who had slept in the building on roll-out camp mats stirring about 8.30am to fetch coffee and other supplies.

Other students gradually arrived at the leafy campus making their way to class by 9am – some curious about the occupied building and its poster-covered windows, others hardly giving it a second glance.

Deputy Opposition Leader David Southwick speaks to the media at the University of Melbourne on Friday.Credit: Justin McManus

Victorian Liberal Party deputy leader David Southwick attended the university on Friday to meet a small number of Jewish students who he said felt intimidated and harassed by the encampments. Those students declined to be interviewed.

Southwick, who is Jewish, said police should be called in to break up the camp.

“How long are we going to let this be where students are actually having classes cancelled? Are we going to turn around and say the campus is no longer open?” he said.

“If students don’t feel safe on campus, then I think the police do need to step in.”

Seven members of “the Monash nine”.Credit: Joe Armao

Southwick also said “the truth has been stretched” about the nature of the university’s relationship with weapons manufacturers.

The long-running pro-Palestine protests and university encampments have triggered a national debate about free speech and discrimination on campuses, and prompted counterprotests by supporters of Israel.

At Deakin’s Burwood campus, in Melbourne’s east, student protesters were issued with a second order to remove their encampment from university grounds. At Monash University, nine student protesters said they had been threatened with suspension and expulsion.

The students said the threats related to them calling for “intifada” – an Arabic word for uprising – and chanting the pro-Palestine slogan “From the river to the sea”.

Students walk through the doors at the Arts West building at the University of Melbourne on Friday.Credit: Justin McManus

The debate over the slogan “from the river to the sea” has also caused tension in Canberra this week. On Wednesday, Labor senator Fatima Payman said Israel was committing genocide against the Palestinian people in Gaza and finished a speech using the slogan.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said on Thursday its use went against the government’s position calling for a two-state solution, while NDIS Minister Bill Shorten said Payman’s place on the foreign affairs committee should be reconsidered.

Albanese said freedom of expression and freedom to protest was important, however there was no place for protests done in a disrespectful way.

Asked about the students demonstrating at universities, Albanese said he believed everyone should protest in a peaceful manner.

“We have a right of freedom of expression in this country. That’s really important. I say this if people want to advance their cause, they need to be respectful, not attack others, not be disrespectful,” Albanese said.

“How people demonstrate their political views is very important. And there is no place for some of the disrespectful ways in which some of these activities are happening. Whether it be in some university campuses, or indeed, outside my electorate office.”

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