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The Executive Council of Australian Jewry (ECAJ), together with its affiliate, the Australasian Union of Jewish Students (AUJS) met with University Vice Chancellors from the Group of 8 Universities on Thursday for an open and frank discussion on the current situation of unrest on many of their campuses. The meeting was convened by the Secretary of the Commonwealth Department of Education.
Jillian Segal AO, who represented the ECAJ in the meeting and Noah Loven, President of AUJS, raised the vulnerability of Jewish students and staff who are facing intimidation and harassment from their peers and outside agitators. Ms Segal stressed the importance of universities upholding their respective codes of conduct and bringing disciplinary action against those found to be in breach.
The VCs assured the ECAJ the situation on each campus is receiving serious attention at the highest level, is monitored and reviewed daily and significant effort and importance is being placed on keeping all students and staff safe. Indeed, a number of the universities are currently taking disciplinary action against individuals who have breached their codes of conduct.
Ms Segal said that the ECAJ will continue its dialogue with the Vice Chancellors and together with the universities, she urged students and staff who witness or experience harassment, abuse or other unacceptable conduct to immediately report this to the universities so that action may be taken.
The ECAJ also welcomed remarks today by the Prime Minister that antisemitism has no place in our country and Jewish students must feel safe at their universities.
Ms Segal said, “the ECAJ and AUJS, as the representative bodies of the community and Jewish students, will continue to work with the government and universities to ensure this becomes a reality not merely an aspiration.”
