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🇮🇱 Israel /Culture & Society

Australian academics call on prize winner to return award over Israel links

From Jerusalem Post · () English

Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

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  • Over 100 Australian academics signed an open letter urging Professor Matthew Champion to return the Dan David Prize, citing its links to Israel.
  • The academics accused the prize of normalizing

More than 100 Australian academics have signed an open letter calling on Professor Matthew Champion to return the prestigious Dan David Prize, citing concerns over its association with Israel. The letter, which includes signatories like activist Randa Abdel-Fattah and National Museum chair Clare Wright, argues that accepting the award contributes to the "ongoing normalization of the genocide and scholasticide in Palestine."

keeping the award would contribute to "the ongoing normalization of the genocide and scholasticide in Palestine."

— academicsThe open letter signed by over 100 academics

Scholasticide, a term coined by Palestinian scholar Karma Nabulsi, refers to the systematic destruction of an education system. Champion, an associate professor at the University of Melbourne, was awarded the $300,000 prize for his research on medieval societies' perception of time. He is the first academic from his university to receive this honor, which the Faculty of Arts dean described as the "highest possible recognition for scholars studying the human past."

the foundation’s focus on history and archaeology serves a key part of the Israeli and Zionist project of attempting to rewrite, and write over, the story of Palestinian land.

— academicsThe open letter signed by over 100 academics

The signatories also accused the Dan David Foundation of making "minimal" statements about the war in Gaza and failing to label the conflict a "genocide." They contend that the foundation's focus on history and archaeology serves to "rewrite, and write over, the story of Palestinian land."

the highest possible recognition for scholars studying the human past.

— University of Melbourne's Faculty of Arts deanDescribing the Dan David Prize

However, the University of Melbourne's interim vice-chancellor, Glyn Davis, publicly rebuked the open letter. He stated that the university would celebrate Champion's achievement and expressed disappointment that some colleagues would petition him to reject the award. Davis affirmed the university's "steadfast" support for Champion.

I am disappointed some would petition Associate Professor Champion to reject this award.

— Glyn DavisInterim vice-chancellor of the University of Melbourne
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Jerusalem Post in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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