USYD vice chancellor sorry over antisemitism
The vice chancellor of the University of Sydney Mark Scott has apologised for the “unacceptable” antisemitism experienced by Jewish staff and students.
Speaking to a Senate inquiry into antisemitism on campus, the vice-chancellor of the University of Sydney Mark Scott said it was unacceptable Jewish students were made to feel “unsafe” during an eight-week pro-Palestinian encampment protest and said both he and the university had “failed” students and staff.
“Yes, I have failed them and the university’s failed them,” Scott told the inquiry.
“I’ve read the complaints that have been made to the university and all those shared in submissions to this inquiry And to the special envoy, and the testimonials are heartbreaking and unacceptable.
“For that I am sorry. No one should feel at risk, unsafe or unwelcome at any place of learning, and no one should feel the need to hide their identity or stay away from classrooms or campuses.”
Scott said he regretted that he did not communicate in advance with the Jewish community an agreement he had made with the Muslim students association to end the pro-Palestine protest encampment.
“I realise there is a lot of work to do to win back the trust and confidence of the university’s Jewish community, and I am committed to doing that.”
The Australasian Union of Jewish Students (AUJS) vice-president Zac Morris singled out the university and its vice chancellor for criticism at the inquiry, saying of a meeting with Professor Scott: “His chief of staff had to apologise for his behaviour as soon as he left the office.”
“What we’ve been seeing at the University of Sydney has been problematic for a long time,” he said.
The opposition’s education spokeswoman Sarah Henderson said Prof Scott had failed in his leadership, and questioned why he didn’t ban camping on the campuses and remove the encampments earlier.
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