The ANU Gaza Solidarity Encampment. Students have been told to pack up. Photo: Wikimedia.
The Australian National University has told students involved in the Gaza protests to clear their encampment by the end of the week.
The National Tertiary Education Union tweeted that the ANU had directed students to collect their belongings and vacate the ANU Gaza Solidarity Encampment, effective Friday.
But a rally has been called for noon on Thursday at Kambri to save the encampment, which is protesting against Israel’s war on Hamas in Gaza and the devastation wrought on the Palestinian people.
“The NTEUACT stands with students and in support of academic freedom, freedom of speech, and peaceful protest,” the union said.
An ANU spokesperson confirmed the university held a meeting today with ANU students participating in the encampment to discuss how they could continue to protest in a manner that ensures the health, safety and well-being of everyone at ANU.
However, the ANU clarified that if students defied the ultimatum, they would face disciplinary action.
“The University has communicated its expectations to ANU students in this meeting,” the spokesperson said.
“As per the university’s code of conduct and student discipline rule, ANU expects participants to follow these reasonable directions.”
The spokesperson said the ANU supported students’ right to protest, but these activities must be safe and not cause unnecessary harm or damage to the campus or community.
A statement from the ANU Gaza Solidarity Encampment said ANU leadership held a meeting with seven students, all of whom were asked to leave the encampment by Friday.
It said they were warned that failing to comply with this instruction constitutes a breach of the university’s Code of Conduct.
” We call upon the university to rescind these threats of disciplinary action,” the statement said.
“No students were provided with concrete information or evidence in regards to alleged violations of the Code of Conduct, despite repeated requests.
” The reasons cited for the instruction to vacate concern damage to university property – like the grass – and feelings of some members of the community.”
The statement said this contradicted ANU’s stated policy that speech did not lose its protected status because it caused offence or insult.
“This meeting was an attempt to isolate, intimidate, and divide students and to silence our right to protest,” the statement said.
The ANU, like other campuses, has come under increasing pressure to move against the protests after Jewish students complained about anti-Semitic speech and not feeling safe.
On Tuesday, Victoria’s Deakin University told students there to disband its protest, citing the safety, security and amenity of all campus users.
Last Friday afternoon, the ANU’s deputy vice-chancellor (academic), Professor Grady Venville, reminded protesters of the university’s codes of conduct.
“I am informally letting you know that I have received multiple reports and complaints about the encampment in which you are participating and your behaviours are potentially in breach of the student code of conduct,” she wrote.
“The encampment is dividing our community and causing members of our community harm.”
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