Mark Scott’s apology a step in the right direction, but he underestimated campus anti-Semitism

The University of Sydney Professor Mark Scott AO at a public senate hearing. Picture: Jane Dempster.

Mark Scott’s apology to Jewish students and staff of the University of Sydney at the Senate inquiry into anti-Semitism on Australian campuses is an important step in the resolution of the issue. Professor Scott’s primary responsibility is the welfare of students and staff at his institution. I believe without doubt he takes this responsibility very seriously indeed.

My feeling is that he underestimated the level and the nature of the anti-Semitism that was being expressed in the wake of the Hamas attack of October 7. While he acted in what he considered the best interests of staff and students in attempting to manage the situation, it was clearly too little, too late. He tried to take control without escalating matters among a group of young people whose feelings ran much higher than their understanding, let alone involvement, in the political situation of Israel, Hamas or the population of Gaza.

I don’t believe that Scott recognised the level of anti-Semitism that was being expressed, or comprehended how it was expressing itself in the guise of support for the Palestinians. With his background in the secondary education system, the print media and the public service, he came to Sydney University with relatively little experience of the tertiary environment. The students involved belong to an age-group that is articulate, aggressive and often ethically self-righteous in seeking causes and testing their limits. Their schooling seems to have left them ignorant of historical detail of even major events such as the Holocaust, let alone the founding of the state of Israel or the activities of Hamas. Moreover they have been manipulated and encouraged by some insidious academics and other figures who can hardly be excused on the basis of age or ignorance.

As a staff member whose lecture on May 14 this year was disrupted by aggressive and menacing student protesters I repeat my thanks to the university for its attention to my wellbeing in the aftermath of the event. Scott met with me days after. He asked me about aspects of the situation as I saw it, and asked me in particular about my understanding of anti-Semitism from a professional viewpoint. Those who have no more than a fleeting knowledge of this history may not understand its prolonged consequences into following generations.

The issue at the University of Sydney was clear: the targeting of Jews on the basis of ethnicity as complicit in what was being described by this group as “genocide”. This was not about calm, objective, reasoned or informed debate. It was characterised by shouting, haranguing and accusing of those who did not join in the chorus of protest at Israeli actions with little or no mention of the role of Hamas and the Palestinians themselves. The self-presentation of the pro-Palestine protesters was threatening and should have been stopped much earlier. That much I myself saw and heard.

Peter Morgan

Many of the students and staff at the University of Sydney are the grandchildren, if no longer children, of Holocaust survivors. It was and is unconscionable that they should be subjected to anti-Semitism of any sort, let alone this accusatory and menacing behaviour. Those pro-Palestinian protesters identifying and verbally harassing and menacing Jewish students and staff needed to be brought to understand that the way in which they were supporting the Palestinian cause was ill-considered and damaging to Jewish fellow students and staff members.

Since that incident I have been approached by both staff and students of the university who, like myself, are not Jewish and are both appalled and disturbed by what our campus has become known for.

In this Scott acted too little and too late. He has accepted and apologised for this and his apology should be accepted. Those of us involved at the University of Sydney will continue to support Jewish staff and students and to speak out when and if we see casual or orchestrated anti-Semitism. To make good on his apology, Scott will need to continue to be receptive to and act in the best interests of staff and students in this and other potential cases of the targeting of any particular group in the university community.

Professor Peter Morgan is European Studies Program director at University of Sydney.