The University of Sydney administration has once again clashed with pro-Palestine activist students and staff, this time over new rules explicitly banning the kind of “occupation” protesters employed at the Camperdown campus for weeks on end.In an email to students on Thursday, Vice-Chancellor Mark Scott set out a list of changes to the university’s “campus access policy”, including that any activity “using megaphones or amplifiers, erecting structures, projecting words or images onto buildings or other structures, using cooking equipment or heaters not provided by the University, (and) attaching materials, banners or structures to University buildings” would require approval and at least 72 hours’ notice.Demonstrations can still be held without approval, but organisers must still give three days’ notice, and they “must be held in open spaces and are not permitted inside any building”.Camping has been banned outright, along with “intimidating behaviour”, “using a megaphone … in close proximity to a person”, “dumping rubbish or other materials” and “storing personal property on University lands without permission”.“At its core, this policy upholds our commitment to free speech — while recognising we need to be able to manage our environment for the safety and security of all,” Professor Scott wrote. “We continue to support the right to peaceful, orderly protest.”
All of this makes sense, and it protects all students while upholding free speech. So naturally the Israel haters are going crazy:
SRC president Harrison Brennan argued the measures would have a chilling effect not only on pro-Palestine activism, but other campaigns and causes, and would “stifle” other aspects of campus life.“This is a repulsive full-scale offensive on the right to protest at the University of Sydney,” he said.
Greens senator Mehreen Faruqi slammed the move on Friday,."What we are seeing here is a despicable attempt by neoliberal, corporate university management to stifle student activism and shut down political expression," she said.
Free speech does not mean the unlimited right for students to take over property, destroy property, threaten others, endanger others, bring outside agitators to campus, block access to areas for people they disagree with, and call for violence. If students don't understand that basic concept, they are clearly taking the wrong classes.
(h/t Jill)
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