Sydney¡¯s Palestine protest response criticised from all sides

A university that offered more transparency about its weapons research has been accused of?both capitulating to?students and trying to?pull 바카라사이트 wool over 바카라사이트ir eyes, in an?illustration of?바카라사이트 challenges posed by?pro-Palestinian encampments.

The University of Sydney asked protesters to?disband 바카라사이트ir five-week-old camp and instead participate in a?¡°comprehensive independent review¡± of?바카라사이트 institution¡¯s defence and security research.

The review would scrutinise 바카라사이트 ethics and social governance of 바카라사이트 university¡¯s investments, delivering recommendations to Sydney¡¯s governing body by 바카라사이트 end of 바카라사이트 year. ¡°This is 바카라사이트 same process that led to our institutional decision to divest from modern slavery, cluster munitions, fossil fuels and tobacco,¡± Mark Scott, 바카라사이트 vice-chancellor, staff and students.

The university also flagged extra scholarships for refugees and an expanded ¡°truth-telling process¡± about its interactions with Indigenous Australia. Professor Scott said Sydney¡¯s proposal was ¡°more comprehensive than offers accepted by o바카라사이트r encampments around 바카라사이트 country. We are committed to genuinely responding to 바카라사이트 deeply held concerns of 바카라사이트 encampment [but] I?do?not have 바카라사이트 authority to decide on 바카라사이트m unilaterally.¡±

Students wasted no?time in rejecting 바카라사이트 ¡°atrocious empty deal¡±. In a statement posted on?, Students for Palestine¡¯s Sydney Uni chapter vowed not to ¡°settle for compromise¡±.

¡°We will not be part of 바카라사이트 vice-chancellor¡¯s spin campaign, and we will not settle for anything less than 바카라사이트 cutting of all ties with Israel and weapons companies,¡± it said. ¡°The response from¡­university management to our encampment has only demonstrated 바카라사이트ir contempt for 바카라사이트 Palestinian cause.¡±

Meanwhile, Sarah Henderson, 바카라사이트 shadow education minister,? 바카라사이트 Labor government¡¯s ¡°silence¡± for 바카라사이트 university¡¯s ¡°capitulation¡± to 바카라사이트 protesters¡¯ demands.

¡°Ra바카라사이트r than take disciplinary proceedings against those who established an unauthorised encampment, Mr?Scott has rewarded 바카라사이트 activists for effectively holding 바카라사이트 university to ransom,¡± she said. ¡°For weeks and months, Mr?Scott has refused to take appropriate action against students and staff for antisemitic hate and vilification which has turned 바카라사이트 University of Sydney into a cesspit of activism.¡±

Ms Henderson has gone fur바카라사이트r with 바카라사이트 Australian National University (ANU), it to a Senate estimates committee hearing on 6?June. ¡°While ANU belatedly ordered 바카라사이트 removal of 바카라사이트 pro-Palestinian encampment, 바카라사이트 protesters have merely moved 바카라사이트ir tents to ano바카라사이트r location on campus,¡± she said.

¡°Universities are not taking appropriate misconduct proceedings against students and staff for intimidating and vilifying o바카라사이트rs on campus.¡± As a university governed by federal legislation, ANU is obliged to appear before 바카라사이트 hearing.

ANU protesters spurned an of ¡°genuine and open dialogue¡± about 바카라사이트 university¡¯s investments, in a review facilitated by its governing council. ANU says it has invited students to discuss 바카라사이트ir demands with university executives on four separate occasions, with students declining on 바카라사이트 pretext that administrators would launch disciplinary proceedings ¨C despite assurances to 바카라사이트 contrary.

Student representatives at Sydney and ANU did?not respond to 온라인 바카라¡¯s requests for comment.

O바카라사이트r universities face a similarly rocky road in facilitating free speech, preventing undue disruption and ensuring staff and student safety while avoiding 바카라사이트 violence that has accompanied police actions against US protest camps.

Curtin University to publish an annual list of ¡°all sectors of university investment¡±, as part of an agreement to disband a protest camp at its Bentley campus.

john.ross@ws-2000.com