USYD commits to act after student election saga

In a statement released this afternoon, University of Sydney (USYD) Chancellor David Thodey and Vice-Chancellor and President Professor Mark Scott, slammed the university’s Student Representative Council’s (SRC) decision to allow a ‘Globalise the Intifada’ ticket in its election held last week as “totally unacceptable”.

“We reject the contention that this phrase [Globalise the Intifada] is innocuous,” Thodey and Scott said.

“The deliberately provocative use of this slogan has caused – and continues to cause – overwhelming distress to members of our University community. These hateful campaigns must stop.

“We unequivocally oppose hate speech and the use of any terms or slogans that could be readily construed as inciting violence – and will remove signs or symbols when or if this occurs.

“We deplore the manipulation of the recent election campaign – and the use of posters and banners – to spread hurtful and distressing language across campus.