Sydney University abandons integrity, ethical standards

Sydney University is again making headlines for all the wrong reasons (“ ‘Hamas mass rape hoax’ professor escapes with a degree of leniency”, 29/8).

The action – or inaction – demonstrated by vice-chancellor Mark Scott seems to suggest the politicising of education. Scott has failed to deal with pro-Palestinian protesters who took over the university for months. He has now failed to fire a lecturer for complaining about fake news, when lecturing fake news about the events of October 7. The university’s ethos is to “exercise intellectual freedom according to the highest ethical, professional and legal standards”. Surely, this has been breached on all counts?

Let’s compare this with the University of Western Australia’s “deep history of the sea project” about Indigenous heritage sites. This was used as evidence in a mining dispute, with a judge concluding that evidence given by a lecturer was fabricated. The academic concerned retained his post, whereas several others, who had disputed the project’s conclusions, did not have contracts renewed

Graham Pinn, Maroochydore, Qld

In Alexi Demetriadi’s report, Sydney University states that “our academic staff giving lectures must exercise their intellectual freedom according to the highest ethical, professional and legal standards and apply a best reaching approach incorporating evidence and analysis”.

Sujatha Fernandes did not appear to incorporate evidence when suggesting that the mass rape and sexual violence perpetrated by Hamas was “fake news” and a “hoax”. In fact, the only fake news were the fairytales the professor was making up and sprouting to her students.

Robert Krochmalik, Pearl Beach, NSW

If all arguments submitted at Sydney University are treated with the same leniency as Sujatha Fernandes’s have been, then the university’s degrees will be very popular among large swathes of society. It will be: “Step right up, get a degree today.” Surely, the very least the professor could now do is apologise to the Jewish community, to her students and to all decent Australians for promoting anti-Semitism in our country.

Neil Cadman, Norman Park, Qld

A Sydney University professor has reportedly lied to impressionable young students (presumably the leaders of tomorrow) about the savagery of the October 7 attacks on Israel.

It’s understood that “disciplinary action” will be taken by her employer. So, why is she still in the job?

Tim Napier-Munn, Bellbowrie, Qld

I have been disgusted with Sydney University vice-chancellor Mark Scott’s attitude towards the behaviour of pro-Hamas staff and students at my old alma mater, but today’s story by reporter Alexi Demetriadi takes the cake. My father and grandfather, who also held degrees from there, would be turning in their graves.

Jennifer Davis, Molong, NSW

One can only speculate as to what the repercussions might have been for Sydney University vice-chancellor Mark Scott and Sujatha Fernandes had the latter told first-year students that Indigenous disadvantage in all its many serious manifestations was “fake news” and a hoax concocted by Australian media.

Peter Wargent, Mosman, NSW

Sydney University’s Sujatha Fernandes has reportedly told first-year students that the mass rapes and sexual violence committed by Hamas on October 7 were “fake news” and a “hoax peddled by the media”. Sydney University has been embroiled in months of pro-Palestinian encampments as well as allegations that it is not doing enough to protect Jewish students and staff from anti-Semitism. In response, the University of Sydney has replied: “Our academic staff giving lectures must exercise their intellectual freedom according to the highest ethical, professional and legal standards and apply a best teaching practice approach incorporating evidence and analysis.” However it would appear that no disciplinary action has been taken against this professor. This response from the university is one of the most egregious examples of “weasel words” I’ve come across in some time. As a one-time university student at undergraduate and postgraduate level, I thought academic excellence encompassed logical examination of propositions leading to substantive and evidential conclusions.

Greg Angelo, Balwyn, Vic