On Monday 26th May, the University of Melbourne (UniMelb) Vice-Chancellor Emma Johnston issued two students with expulsion, and another two with suspension until March 2026. This action was taken as a result of the students’ protest against UniMelb’s affiliation with Hebrew University of Jerusalem.
Johnston’s decision came after approximately 20 students had occupied the office of Jewish Physics Professor Stephen Prawer on 9th October 2024.
Prawer is affiliated with the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, which has been an official Boycott, Divest, Sanction (BDS) target since 2004.
The National Tertiary Education Union (NTEU) commented that “Professor Johnston’s new tenure as VC is now distinguished by her decision to oversee the largest and most severe disciplining of students in Australia in response to peaceful protest against the ongoing genocide in Palestine.”
The four students involved have been given 20 days to lodge an appeal against UniMelb’s decision.
The UniMelb for Palestine organisation said that “If these decisions are upheld, this will set a dangerous precedent for student activism going forward.”
UniMelb for Palestine began a campaign on 2nd June to protest against the outcome.
If the students are expelled, they will be the first students in Australia to face expulsion for protesting against the genocide in Palestine and university affiliations with Israel.
Liz Strazkosh, acting NTEU UniMelb Vice President, said “We reject the use of the language of staff safety and antiracism to justify the punishment of students who are speaking up against Israel’s mass killing and starvation in Gaza.
“Leadership in student and staff repression is not the leadership we are looking for in the current moment.”
Greens Senator Mehreen Faruqi commented, “Universities like the University of Melbourne should cease the disciplinary witch hunts on brave student activists and issue a public apology for the McCarthyist crackdown on staff and students speaking out for a free Palestine”.
