Keep students safe or quit, vice-chancellor Mark Scott told

The federal opposition has called on the University of Sydney vice-chancellor to resign if he can’t ­ensure the safety of all students.

University of Sydney vice-chancellor Mark Scott. Picture: John Grainger

The federal opposition has called on the University of Sydney vice-chancellor to resign if he can’t ­ensure the safety of all students, but a leading Jewish group says he should go now following a ­capitulation to pro-Palestine ­protesters.

The university on Tuesday revealed it had invited anti-Israel campers to join a working group to review the institution’s defence and security research ties, among other offers. Vice-chancellor Mark Scott said the university had offered the demonstrators the most “comprehensive” list of offers made to any of the campus activists around the country.

Opposition education spokeswoman Sarah Henderson called on Professor Scott to consider his future if he could not ensure student safety, and for the Albanese government to intervene.

“Mr Scott has refused to take appropriate action against students and staff for anti-Semitic hate and vilification which has turned the University of Sydney into a cesspit of activism,” Senator Henderson said on Wednesday.

“Rather than take disciplinary proceedings against those who established an unauthorised encampment, Mr Scott has rewarded the activists for effectively holding the university to ransom. If Mr Scott can’t do his job and ensure the university is a safe place for everyone, he should resign.”

Zionist Federation of Australia president Jeremy Leibler called on Professor Scott to go.

“As vice-chancellor, Mark Scott has a duty of care to all students,” he said. “He has failed in this duty, and so must stand down. Mark Scott has provided to the anti-Israel protesters a powerful lesson: intimidation works and hatred gets results.”

At least one faction of the ­student protesters rejected the deal on Tuesday, saying they would not participate in “the vice-chancellor’s spin campaign and we will not settle for anything less than the cutting of all ties with ­Israel and weapons companies known to supply the IDF”.

On Wednesday, the Australian Academic Alliance Against Anti-Semitism sent a letter with 479 signatures to Professor Scott saying they were “deeply dismayed that you appear to have addressed the protesters’ demands before you have gathered the perspectives of Jewish staff and students”.

The letter, according to the organisers, was signed by 44 current students, 168 alumni and 39 staff members.

“We are deeply concerned that university leadership has allowed a tiny group of protesters many of whom are not students at the University of Sydney to dictate policy,” the letter reads. “We note that you described this offer as being more comprehensive than any others around the country and note that other universities have managed to disband the encampments without giving in to the protesters’ demands.”

Executive Council of Australian Jewry co-CEO Alex Ryvchin said Professor Scott had been “outwitted by … extremists”.

A University of Sydney spokesman said the offers were “very similar to offers made at leading universities from around the world, including Harvard University”.

“While some people seem to be urging for conflict and trying to agitate, we are absolutely focused on de-escalation and on not fuelling tensions further. We want our campus to remain peaceful and our university activities to continue uninterrupted,” the spokesman said.

“We have been very clear we condemn all forms of racial vilification, including anti-Semitism and Islamophobia, and that the safety of our community is our absolute top priority at all times.”