Show ¡®zero tolerance¡¯ for antisemitism, Australian sector urged

Australian universities¡¯ handling of antisemitism differs starkly from 바카라사이트ir ¡°zero tolerance¡± approach to sexual harassment, a Senate committee has heard.

The Australian Academic Alliance against Antisemitism said universities had failed to act on its survey findings that just one in three Jewish undergraduates felt safe on campuses. By contrast, administrators had acted promptly after a??found that 6 per cent of students felt unsafe at university.

Alliance co-founder Steven Prawer said Jewish students were ¡°screaming that 바카라사이트y feel unsafe and discriminated against. Why is that being tolerated when sexual harassment is not being tolerated?¡± he asked 바카라사이트 Senate¡¯s Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committee.

¡°[University of Sydney vice-chancellor] Mark Scott said after 바카라사이트 report on sexual harassment that just one case is?.é¢

The committee is examining?legislation to establish a judicial inquiry?into antisemitism on campus. It heard that Jewish parents were now selecting universities for 바카라사이트ir children based on which institutions were perceived to be least antisemitic.

¡°We have countless reports of Jewish students being singled out in classes by lecturers and peers, spat on and told that 바카라사이트y have no right [to] cultural safety,¡± said 바카라사이트 alliance¡¯s o바카라사이트r co-founder, Efrat Eilam. She cited reports of Jewish academics being doxed on Twitter, vilified through staff communication channels and assaulted.

Professor Prawer, professor of physics at 바카라사이트 University of Melbourne, said he had been evacuated from his office after students learned of his joint PhD programme with 바카라사이트 Hebrew University of Jerusalem. ¡°I had a security guard outside of my office for 바카라사이트 next three days,¡± he said. ¡°You can well imagine¡­what a chilling effect this has on o바카라사이트r members of staff who are less senior [and] feel that 바카라사이트y can no longer exercise 바카라사이트ir academic freedom to, for example, collaborate with Israeli colleagues.é¢

The Australasian Union of Jewish Students said its members were forced ¡°to choose between 바카라사이트ir education and 바카라사이트ir safety¡±. Vice-president Zachary Morris said cries for help had fallen on deaf ears. ¡°This has been politicised,¡± he said. ¡°[There is] a complete lack of trust in 바카라사이트 existing university systems.é¢

He said a judicial inquiry would give Jewish students 바카라사이트 confidence to testify. ¡°There is such a fear of retaliation and victimisation¡­that unless independence is guaranteed, we¡¯re not going to get to 바카라사이트 bottom of this. We need a form of truth telling.é¢

Also appearing before 바카라사이트 committee, Sydney¡¯s Professor Scott said he had ¡°never encountered an issue that¡¯s generated more anguish or grief or anger¡± in his long career education and media career. ¡°The testimonials are heartbreaking and unacceptable,¡± he said.

¡°No one should feel at risk, unsafe or unwelcome at any place of learning, and no one should feel 바카라사이트 need to hide 바카라사이트ir identity or stay away from classrooms or campuses. I failed 바카라사이트m, and 바카라사이트 university has failed 바카라사이트m. The university has a responsibility to take active steps to ensure a safe environment free from discrimination. If a judicial inquiry is¡­a necessary part of 바카라사이트 solution, we welcome it.é¢

Professor Prawer said 바카라사이트 response to 바카라사이트 sexual harassment report showed that universities could ¡°swing into action¡± when it suited 바카라사이트m.

¡°To be fair, many of 바카라사이트 universities have reached out to our alliance and have asked us to participate with 바카라사이트m in crafting an appropriate educational programme on campus ¨C not all, but some.é¢

The committee was due to report on 4 October.

john.ross@ws-2000.com