More ‘illegitimate’ student protests ahead, University of Melbourne warned

One of Australia’s top universities has been warned it will see ‘illegitimate actions’ repeated after pro-Palestine student activists walked away from disciplinary hearings with only warnings.

A pro-Palestine protest at the University of Melbourne in May. Picture: NewsWire / David Crosling

One of Australia’s top universities has been warned it will see “illegitimate actions” repeated after pro-Palestine student activists walked away from disciplinary hearings with only warnings over their 10-day takeover of a building.

Earlier this month, 21 University of Melbourne students were called before a committee of senior university representatives to learn their fates at the academic institution, with expulsion, suspension and warnings on the table.

The hearings were sparked by the occupation of a Parkville campus building in May, with students and staff involved calling for the university to disclose and divest ties with Israel and weapons manufacturers.

Uni Melb for Palestine, a student protest group, confirmed the activists had been slapped with warnings, and said “baseless allegations” had been upheld against them.

“For now we want to tell Melbourne University and its Zionist lobby and management that we will not stop fighting for a free Palestine fomr (sic) the river to the sea,” Uni Melb for Palestine wrote in a social media post.

It said it had more to share in the near future about how “unethically and politically motivated” the misconduct hearings were.

The course of action taken means the students would have received an official written statement confirming the finding of misconduct against them had been substantiated and a “caution” against repeated behaviour.

It is understood the warning could be included on a student’s academic record.

It is understood the saga could drag out if students decide to appeal the committee’s decision.

Some of the University of Melbourne students who faced disciplinary hearings. Picture: Tricia Rivera

According to its own policy, the university does not support freedom of speech when it “undermines the capacity of individuals to participate fully in the university”.

Zionist Federation of Australia chief executive officer Alon Cassuto called the results of the disciplinary hearing “disappointing”.

“As we’ve seen recently, ANU (Australian National University) saw it appropriate to expel a student for publicly saying Hamas deserved ‘unconditional support’,” Mr Cassuto said.

“Universities should ensure they are not giving the green light to other students that they can create a hostile environment on campus, take over buildings, disrupt classes, compromise the welfare of other students, vandalise university property, and potentially not face appropriate disciplinary action.”

Zionism Victoria executive director Zeddy Lawrence said the university had not gone far enough in punishing the students.

“That some action has been taken is welcome, but warnings after the fact do little to address the harassment and intimidation experienced by Jewish students, who were so fearful or uncomfortable that they felt they had no choice but to stay at home,” Mr Lawrence said.

Victorian opposition tertiary education spokeswoman Bridget Vallence said decisive and strong action was required.

“These warnings are not, by any measure, an appropriate response to the disgraceful conduct that was engaged in and will do nothing to deter potential future conduct,” Ms Vallence said.

“Through their actions, these protesters denied the ability of hundreds of students and teaching staff to freely participate in their course of study, causing considerable distress and uncertainty. They had no right to prevent other students from accessing their right to education. ”

Ms Vallence said fines or suspensions would have been “a far more appropriate” response to the “trespass activities”.

“Unless the university is prepared to take strong preventive measures, it will invariably see a repeat of these illegitimate actions,” she said.

Her federal counterpart, Sarah Henderson, said universities must apply their rules “without fear or favour”.

The Australian Palestine Advocacy Network said students participating in peaceful protest had faced “undue repression” from universities.

“Of particular concern are reports that the University of Melbourne is under investigation by a Victorian government authority for potentially breaching privacy laws by using surveillance technology to identify students involved in a sit-in,” APAN said in a statement.

Provost Nicola Phillips said freedom of speech is fundamental to the university’s values and that at “no time” did the academic institution seek to restrict it.

“These matters relate to the circumstances surrounding the occupation of one of our buildings. They are not related to freedom of speech or peaceful protest,” Professor Phillips said.

“We follow the processes as outlined in our policies, which includes respecting the confidentiality of those involved and ensuring procedural fairness throughout these processes.”