University of Melbourne defends management of antisemitism on campus

The University of Melbourne is defending its approach to managing antisemitism on campus, particularly in response to pro-Palestinian protests, as its Vice-Chancellor testified before a Royal Commission. Glyn Davis stated that the institution opted not to publicize the names of students disciplined for occupying a Jewish academic's office to prevent the incident from becoming a lasting "stain" on their young lives.

“

not to make a stain on the rest of their lives

Professor Davis, who became Vice-Chancellor in February, was questioned about the university's response to the occupation of physics professor Steven Prawer's office by masked protesters in May. Professor Prawer had previously told the commission of his disappointment with the university's actions.

“

For him to be singled out and treated in this way was appalling

The commission heard that Professor Prawer was targeted due to his involvement in a PhD research partnership with the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, which activists wrongly equated with complicity in the actions of the Israeli state. Professor Davis expressed sympathy for Prawer, calling the targeting "appalling," and noted that the university had incurred costs to improve security for the professor, ironically just before the occupation occurred.

“

inaccurately conflating the university's ties with Israeli academics as being 'somehow complicit to genocide'

Regarding the decision to withhold the students' names, Professor Davis emphasized it was not made lightly. He condemned the protesters' actions, particularly their inaccurate conflation of the university's academic ties with Israel as being "somehow complicit to genocide." He also denounced posters displayed around campus that targeted Professor Prawer, labeling them as antisemitic and expressing distress over the conflation of Jewish identity with the actions of a nation-state.

“

This is antisemitism in my judgement and should be condemned.