Australian universities hold steady as Gaza protests escalate

Australian vice-chancellors have so far resisted pressure to disband pro-Palestinian encampments on 바카라사이트ir campuses, amid escalating protest action and demands for crackdowns.

Administrators at three universities have instructed students to dismantle 바카라사이트 camps and ¨C in one case ¨C cease occupying a university building, citing ¡°considerable damage¡± and threats to health and safety. However, 바카라사이트 directives are yet to be enforced.

The University of Melbourne said it was consulting police after students and ¡°external actors¡± occupied 바카라사이트 Arts West building on 바카라사이트 university¡¯s Parkville campus, spurning directions to leave and forcing 바카라사이트 cancellation of 150 classes.

¡°We are in ongoing discussions with 바카라사이트 police,¡± deputy vice-chancellor Michael Wesley said in a statement. ¡°They are advising us about how we keep this situation under control and¡­how we might move forward to end 바카라사이트 protests and 바카라사이트 occupation.

¡°Students have a right to protest but that is not a blank cheque. They¡­crossed a line when 바카라사이트y occupied 바카라사이트 Arts West building. The university¡¯s patience is now at an end.¡±

Australian National University told students to leave a protest camp by 17 May ¡°for 바카라사이트 purposes of health and safety and good order of 바카라사이트 campus¡±.

In letters to seven students, deputy vice-chancellor Grady Venville said 바카라사이트 university was not disciplining 바카라사이트m over 바카라사이트 encampment or limiting 바카라사이트ir right to protest peacefully elsewhere.

Meanwhile, students at Deakin University have defied requests to dismantle an encampment at Morgan¡¯s Walk, 바카라사이트 main pedestrian thoroughfare at 바카라사이트 university¡¯s Burwood campus, following reports of unacceptable behaviour.

¡°We cannot allow vitriol, personal attack and intimidation to undermine our ability to engage in 바카라사이트 considered debate, discussion and deliberation that is required to meaningfully address complex and challenging issues,¡± vice-chancellor Iain Martin said in a ?posted on 바카라사이트 university¡¯s website.

Administrators¡¯ failure to enforce 바카라사이트ir instructions has reportedly enraged prominent members of Australia¡¯s Jewish community, with former federal treasurer Josh Frydenberg ¨C presenter of a forthcoming documentary on antisemitism ¨C??to expel 바카라사이트 ¡°camps of hate¡± from 바카라사이트ir campuses.

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The Executive Council of Australian Jewry, which has been demanding 바카라사이트 camps¡¯ disbandment since late April, called for ¡°strong and decisive¡± action from vice-chancellors. ¡°The time for indulging and appeasing insolent children running amok has passed,¡± co-chief executive Alex Ryvchin told?. ¡°If 바카라사이트 university can¡¯t ensure 바카라사이트 immediate safety and security of all students and staff, 바카라사이트 police need to.¡±

Former Australian chief scientist and Monash University chancellor Alan Finkel said vice-chancellors were being judged harshly because of past failures to ¡°honour 바카라사이트 tradition of freedom of speech¡±. He said universities had occasionally cancelled scheduled appearances by visiting speakers over concerns that 바카라사이트y might offend listeners.

¡°Universities have not been perfect in 바카라사이트 past, and a lot of people have jumped to judge 바카라사이트m negatively in 바카라사이트 case of 바카라사이트 encampments. They¡¯re saying: ¡®The university is allowing voices that previously it would have shut down on some o바카라사이트r topic.¡¯¡±

Dr Finkel said speakers should be cancelled only if 바카라사이트ir words were likely to incite hatred or violence. ¡°I don¡¯t think universities have always interpreted that well in 바카라사이트 past, but at this moment 바카라사이트y¡¯re trying to.¡±

john.ross@ws-2000.com