Review finds policies, complaints procedures need overhaul
'Striking a balance between the use of impermissible speech and the proper application of freedom of speech and academic freedom is now imperative'
The University of Sydney’s (USYD’S) complaints procedures are “complex, slow, receive generic communications and lack transparency”, a review has found.
USYD appointed barrister Bruce Hodgkinson in July to conduct an external review of its policies and processes following complaints from Jewish staff and students of feeling unsafe due to antisemitism on campus, including during the ostensibly pro-Palestinian encampment earlier this year.
Hodgkinson was engaged to look at whether USYD’s policies and processes “are appropriate and fit for purpose as we safeguard the wellbeing of our community, academic freedom and freedom of speech, and the effective operations of the University into the future”.
“The Review received many complaints that students felt unsafe on campus resulting from protests (which included the encampment) and the activity that accompanied them,” Hodgkinson wrote in his findings.
“A wide variety of circumstances was referred to which included antisemitic speech, racist threats, and the capacity to move around the campus without being confronted by the protest activity.
“There were also complaints that activities such as the flying of flags, the display of posters in areas not permitted by the University’s policy and the display of banners created circumstances where people felt unsafe.”
As for the university’s complex complaints procedures, he wrote, “Many have complained that the process takes too long. Individuals who feel that the University has taken inadequate or no action and have seen the activity complained about continue, such as posters appearing in unauthorised areas of the campus, have described themselves as feeling unsafe.”
Hodgkinson observed that USYD’s complaints procedures “involve multiple entry points, policies, processes, systems and complaints handlers”.
“Where a complaints procedure is difficult to access or navigate it may result in under reporting,” he said.
“A single central office should be established.”
Hodgkinson added that the university’s policies themselves were described as overly complex and difficult to interpret.
“The submissions made to the review make it clear that the University’s policies are not well understood and rarely consulted,” he said.
“People from outside of the university have difficulty locating them and even more difficulty gaining clarity from them.”
His report concluded, “The task of keeping the campus a place where students and staff feel safe is complex … Despite having policies and procedures which are intended to address these issues the University has still been criticised for not doing enough and for not doing anything.
“Despite the difficulty in doing so, striking a balance between the use of impermissible speech and the proper application of freedom of speech and academic freedom is now imperative.”
Shadow federal education minister Senator Sarah Henderson called it a “scathing review” that had highlighted “both institutional failures and the Albanese Government’s weak response to campus antisemitism”.
“From day one, the Coalition joined with Jewish organisations to demand that all forms of campus antisemitism be shut down but at the University of Sydney this fell on deaf ears,” she said.
“The Coalition’s call for a judicial inquiry into campus antisemitism, backed by antisemitism envoy Jillian Segal, exposed many serious failings at the university and sparked a public apology from its vice-chancellor Mark Scott.
“This report not only confirms the university’s shocking mishandling of campus antisemitism but underscores education minister Jason Clare’s inaction in holding universities to account.”
NSW Jewish Board of Deputies president David Ossip said the state roof body was closely reviewing the report’s findings and recommendations.
“There is no question that Sydney University’s lacklustre response to bigotry on campus and its eagerness to forge secretive agreements with extremist groups has let students down,” he said.
“We hope the release of this review allows the university to turn the page on this dark chapter.”
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