Finally, a uni leader with the guts to call out campus anti-Semitism

I applaud Western Sydney University chancellor Jennifer Westacott’s fearless stand against anti-Semitism based upon her university’s Charter of Academic Freedom, which she claims “requires that freedoms and rights be exercised responsibly with zero tolerance for anti-Semitism, Islamophobia, racism, hate speech or intimidation” (“ ‘Universities should never be places of fear’: a leader stands tall against anti-Semitism”, 11-12/5). As she writes, her inspiration is drawn from standing in the deafening silence of Yad Vashem, Jerusalem’s sacred memorial to the victims of the Holocaust. To her surprise, she discovered that the Nazi regime’s most highly educated were among those who had willingly participated in the largest systematic state-sponsored killing of an ethnic minority in human history. So may Professor Westacott break through the deafening silence within the halls of our own academic institutions that still refuse to fearlessly acknowledge there is no place in a post-Holocaust world for anti-Semitism.

Vincent Zankin, Rivett, ACT

Thank you to Jennifer Westacott, who seems to be the only chancellor of our universities who has the backbone to speak out against the hate speech that is overtaking our country. Perhaps the other academics and media might also be inspired if they had some leadership from our government. How disappointing that the Albanese government is contributing to the disruption of our once valued multicultural society.

Valerie Donovan, Corinda, Qld

What a brilliant photo on the front page of The Weekend Australian. Western Sydney University chancellor Jennifer Westacott is a woman of determination and courage, attributes most of our politicians seem to be lacking these days.

Ross McDonald, Gordon, NSW

We have seen the defacement of Columbia University in the US by the geographically challenged (which river, which sea?) and anti-Semitic protesters. Yet it seems university leadership could not stand up and strongly defend our tertiary education sites. Only Jennifer Westacott had the courage, intelligence and personal experience to call out campus protests as anti-Semitic not anti-Zionist. Professor Westacott recognises that fear, destruction of property, and targeting individuals on campus does not help improve the Middle East situation; it just illustrates how quickly institutions can be broken and reduced to intellectual rubbish when history is ignored.

Corinne Haber, Caulfield, Vic

Energy trifecta

Grattan Institute energy and climate change program director Tony Wood says: “Australians will not forgive our political leaders if they mess up the post-coal era and fail to deliver the trifecta of clean, affordable and reliable energy” (Transition to post-coal world doesn’t have to be this messy”, 11-12/5). Wood pushes the line that if we got our act together we could pull off the impossible, that we could have an energy system running like clockwork under a regime of weak, weather-dependent renewables. He readily admits the transition to a net-zero energy system “was never going to be cheap or easy”. But let’s do it anyway. If he wants to talk about an existential threat to the environment, Wood should consider the damage massive wind turbines, sprawling solar farms and thousands of kilometres of high-voltage transmission lines will visit on Australia’s pristine wilderness, on the habitats of our native animals and birds and on prime agricultural land, and then tell us how that debt will be repaid. We will not forgive our political leaders for depriving us of our right to cheap, secure, reliable energy, and for the wilful destruction of the environment.

Dale Ellis, Innisfail, Qld

Faith in Uhlmann

Chris Uhlmann’s critique of the Australian Law Reform Commission’s final report on religious exemptions from anti-discrimination law should be required reading for all students in our secular education system (“Progressive crusade to bend arc in history”, 11-12/5). Warning against the ALRC recommendations, Uhlmann explains how Judeo-Christian principles infuse the very foundations of our secular governance. When the ALP won’t allow its members to be part of any other organisation that does not share its ideals, it is logical to understand why religious institutions and Aussies of faith don’t want to be forced to submit to diktats that undermine the ethos of their faith.

John Bell, Heidelberg Heights, Vic

Chris Uhlmann’s contributions have already become the high point of my weekend reading. However, his column this week went far beyond wise commentary but was I suspect a deeply personal and very moving understanding of the central core of the Western Enlightenment. The explanation of the Greek “logos” was perfect. We live in turbulent times and a deep understanding of where we have come from must not be lost.

Norman Moore, Bangalow, NSW