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🇦🇺 Australia /Culture & Society

Universities to be scrutinised at antisemitism royal commission

From ABC Australia · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Under investigation
  • A Jewish academic from the University of Wollongong received a threatening antisemitic letter and felt unsafe on campus.
  • The university's response to his concerns was deemed inadequate, leading him to work remotely.
  • He has provided a confidential statement to the Royal Commission on Antisemitism and Social Cohesion, which is hearing evidence from academics and students.

A Jewish academic from the University of Wollongong (UOW) described feeling unsafe on campus after receiving a threatening, six-page antisemitic letter. The academic, who uses the pseudonym ZR, believes the letter was sent because his name "sounds Jewish." He reported the incident to police but found UOW lacked a specific process for antisemitism complaints, using a generic form for workplace health concerns instead.

Every time I go onto campus, I wondered to myself is there going to be someone waiting for me with an axe or a gun?

— ZRThe academic, who asked to be known by the pseudonym ZR, described his fear of antisemitism on campus.

ZR escalated his concerns after the Bondi terror attack in December, but felt UOW's response was inadequate, leading him to work remotely. Documentation shows the university acknowledged an "unacceptable" delay in providing a personal protection plan, which added to his distress. "Fourteen months have gone by, and I haven't heard from anybody in a leadership position. Nobody has picked up the phone to say are you OK? Do you need anything?" ZR stated.

Fourteen months have gone by, and I haven't heard from anybody in a leadership position. Nobody has picked up the phone to say are you OK? Do you need anything?

— ZRZR expressed his frustration with the university's lack of follow-up and support.

ZR has made a confidential witness statement to the Royal Commission on Antisemitism and Social Cohesion. The commission is hearing a week of in-person evidence from academics and students about their experiences with antisemitism. Universities, including prestigious Group of Eight (Go8) campuses, are expected to appear later in the week.

the university acknowledged an "unacceptable" delay in providing a personal protection plan that "added to the distress you have already been experiencing".

— University of WollongongDocumentation between the academic and UOW showed the university's acknowledgment of delays in addressing his concerns.

UOW stated it would "cooperate" with the royal commission and assist staff with protection plans and police reports. A spokesperson said, "For reasons of privacy and confidentiality we are not able to comment on individual cases, or on any communication with the royal commission." The university added that it has responded in accordance with its processes and made support available to impacted parties when antisemitic conduct has been raised.

the "tensions and divisions evident across broader society played out on university campuses and attracted significant public attention".

— Vicki ThomsonVicki Thomson, chief executive of the Group of Eight (Go8) universities, commented on the impact of societal divisions on campuses.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by ABC Australia. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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