Swinburne University campus security have allegedly reported pro-Palestine students to the police for leafleting and collecting signatures to call for a Student General Meeting (SGM).
Honi understands that security asked students to stop these activities, and police were called when they refused to comply with their orders.
Students for Palestine Swinburne published an open letter following the incident, stating that “Swinburne University Management has seriously escalated its restriction of free speech and expression at Hawthorn campus”
The open letter also noted that this “serious crackdown on students’ rights” amounted to a “breach” in the University’s own freedom of speech and academic freedom policy [Section 9], having formally adopted the federal ‘Model Code for Higher Education Providers’ in 2021.
In a separate online statement, a Students for Palestine Swinburne spokesperson stated that “we were explicitly told that handing out … leaflets was banned, having a petition for our Student General Meeting on Palestine and having a stall on the issue are all banned.”
Footage uploaded by the group shows at least three police officers confronting the students at their stall. One officer tells them that “the only reason the university’s rung us [the police] up is that the university is saying they don’t want you to do it.” A student asks if this refers to the act of petitioning, to which the officer responds: “yes, to stop asking students to sign something.”
In a different clip, a student says: “you’re saying we’re not allowed to hand these [leaflets] out? That’s quite a serious infringement on free speech.” An officer responds:“they [the university] wanted to know what your response is [sic] if we ask you to stop.”
On Wednesday, just a day before the incident, the group was allegedly “locked out” of a room they had booked for the purpose of organising.
“Swinburne is committed to working with student groups to ensure a peaceful and safe presence on campus,” a Swinburne University spokesperson said, “we welcome debate and activity, provided it does not disrupt the safety and security of others.”
The spokesperson did not comment on the specific allegations brought by students.
Students for Palestine Swinburne has noted that this University opposition has come at a time when campaigning for Student General Meetings across the country has increased.
The University of Sydney SRC called a mass vote amongst the student body on Wednesday August 7, where hundreds of students voted overwhelmingly in favour of divestment from Israeli arms companies and academic institutions, a one-state solution involving a secular, democratic country encompassing the borders of historic Palestine, and the Palestinian right of resistance. Over 1000 students from the University of Queensland voted on similar motions in May.
Swinburne Students for Palestine is remounting petitioning efforts for their own SGM and calling for signatories among staff and students for their open letter.
