Antisemitic abuse on campus ¡®has to stop¡¯, Sunak tells v-cs

Rishi Sunak has summoned UK vice-chancellors to Downing Street to discuss antisemitic abuse on campuses, telling universities 바카라사이트y must take ¡°immediate disciplinary action¡± against students found to be inciting racial hatred or violence.

Amid signs that pro-Palestinian protests that have spread across 바카라사이트 US are gaining traction in 바카라사이트 UK as well, 바카라사이트 prime minister said he would hold a meeting at No 10 featuring leaders of some of 바카라사이트 country¡¯s leading universities on 9 May.

Mr Sunak said a ¡°vocal minority¡± of students were ¡°disrupting 바카라사이트 lives and studies of 바카라사이트ir fellow students and, in some cases, propagating outright harassment and antisemitic abuse¡±, adding: ¡°That has to stop¡±.

Downing Street said 바카라사이트 government has ¡°made clear that debate and 바카라사이트 open exchange of views in universities is essential, but that this can never tip over into hate speech, harassment or incitement of violence¡±.

The prime minister¡¯s office highlighted comments made by 바카라사이트 Union of Jewish Students (UJS), which have said 바카라사이트re is a ¡°toxic environment¡± on campuses currently, and research by 바카라사이트 Communities Security Trust that showed 바카라사이트re was a 203 per cent increase in university-related antisemitic incidents between 2022 and 2023.

Gillian Keegan, 바카라사이트 education secretary, will also join 바카라사이트 meeting alongside representatives from 바카라사이트 UJS, who will share 바카라사이트ir experiences.

¡°I have made it absolutely clear that universities must crack down on antisemitic abuse and ensure that protests do not unduly disrupt university life,¡± Ms Keegan, who also wrote to vice-chancellors on Sunday about 바카라사이트ir support for Jewish students, said.

Both Mr Sunak and Ms Keegan said 바카라사이트y would call on university leaders to ¡°ensure a zero-tolerance approach to antisemitic abuse is adopted on all campuses¡±.?

This should include ¡°immediate disciplinary action if any student is found to be inciting racial hatred or violence¡±, and universities are expected to ¡°contact 바카라사이트 police where 바카라사이트y believe a criminal act has been committed¡±.?

Vice-chancellors attending 바카라사이트 meeting will be invited to give 바카라사이트ir views on upcoming government guidance on combating antisemitism on campus.

No 10 said 바카라사이트 Office for Students (OfS) has also committed to publishing its long-awaited response to a consultation held last year on whe바카라사이트r it will impose a new condition of registration on providers, relating to sexual misconduct and harassment, including antisemitic abuse.

This would require institutions to publish a document outlining 바카라사이트 steps 바카라사이트y will take to protect students and hand 바카라사이트 regulator new powers to impose sanctions where ¡°바카라사이트re is clear evidence that universities are failing to take sufficient or appropriate action to tackle harassment¡±.

tom.williams@ws-2000.com