My take of the current situation at Universities - inspired by an excellent article written by a vice chancellor in the Australian today - “Where are the uni vice chancellors?” By JANET ALBRECHTSEN, The Australian, MAY 8, 2024
A message to the Group of Eight Universities in Australia, she writes :-
Speak up about the ignorance and stifling of free speech that is flourishing on our campuses, right under our noses.
- When students side with Hamas,
- When little children are encouraged and orchestrated to shout “intifada” and “From the river to sea”– both phrases used by terrorists to signal the destruction of the state of Israel – When Jewish students no longer feel safe on campus.
- When there is no room for debate and dialogue with other points of view
- When events for apparently controversial speakers - who speak about peace are shut down for “safety” reasons - Malcolm Turnbull couldn’t get through a speech at a university without it being shut down by shouty protesters.
We ramble under our breath about free speech when it suits, instead of giving this foundational principle of democracy the full-throttled defence it deserves.
Free speech should be taken seriously - and respected at our Universities always - unless this speech instigated hate and destruction of others !!
We need now to speak up for the sake of students who come to University to learn, and feel safe that their views can be heard!
Many people seem to lump the world into
Those that are the Oppressors and The Oppressed.
No nuance is welcome when considering who are the oppressed and who are oppressors.
For some
- the world is a giant mass of racist power structures.
- Others say the world can be understood only as organised male oppression.
- Others point to colonialism as the root of all evil.
They can believe and barrack for what they want
BUT
Shutting down their opponents as a means that justifies the end result - is not the way to go on our campuses !
Once one has identified their oppressed group of choice, they should not just ignore logic and reason in pursuit of their liberation.
And now to the elephant in the proverbial room - Pro-Palestinian protesters
Pro-Palestinian protesters on campus have every right to protest against a brutal war in Gaza.
But protest for Peace
- Do not protest for the destruction of another country or people - that will cause more death and destruction
- Protest for an end to War in Gaza
- Protest against Hamas who invaded Israel, killing innocent civilians, raping women at a music festival and beheading babies, leading to a war in Gaza where innocent Palestinians would die, as innocent civilians have done in every war.
If students can’t identify Hamas as terrorists and support them - then something has gone terribly wrong with their education – under our watch.
It seems that students are being manipulated by extremists who are sharing instruction manuals encouraging militancy and violence (https://www.thefp.com/p/student-protest-guides-violence-micro-intafada).
At New York universities last week, almost half of those arrested by the NYPD were not university students.
Students should think for themselves, test what they have heard, what they have read, what they think they believe, to read widely and to listen to people they think they disagree with.
If academics at our university don’t encourage students to do that, these teachers need to find another job.
Living in a democracy means rights come with responsibilities.
As Sasse said, “We’re a university, not a daycare. We don’t coddle emotions, we wrestle with ideas.”
“We will defend your rights to free speech and free assembly – but if you cross the line, damage property, hijack buildings or take part in any other prohibited activities, you will be suspended. Those who incite violence will be reported to the police, immediately. We will not tolerate mob rule.”
“We say this to be clear with you. We mean it. We will hold you responsible for your actions.”
“We shouldn’t need a written code to explain that a university is committed to free speech and to academic freedom. “
“Yet we do because that’s how far we have lost our way. “
Students of all backgrounds, cultures and religions should expect to hear things at university that may make them uncomfortable.
We must equip students for the real world, where slogans and tent protests won’t get you very far. We need to teach students how to listen, reason, challenge and persuade.
These skills will enrich them and the society they step into with their degrees and doctorates.
Is this not the purpose of university?
Have we have been spending too much time worrying about gendered language and other slight offences, and lost sight of what really matters?
What am I missing?Where are the uni vice chancellors?” By JANET ALBRECHTSEN, The Australian, MAY 8, 2024