Last week, Sydney University’s Senate decided to follow Chancellor Thodey’s lead and reject the assembly of a convocation to debate the university’s ties to Israel. What’s the scam?
The scam is the Senate, which is the governing authority of the University of Sydney, decided instead to kick the can down the road and convene a University-wide community engagement forum in early 2027.
What exactly transpired in the Senate remains unknown. Professor Emeritus Stuart Rees told MWM the vote was reported to be ‘fairly conclusive’, but “Even in a university, when questions arise about relations with Israeli institutions and genocide in Palestine, silence becomes the risk avoidance response.
Silence becomes the story.
“Silence aids ignorance about atrocities. In a September edition of Counterpunch, Haaretz journalist Gideon Levy explains, ‘Almost the entire Israeli society lives in denial of the occupation and the crimes committed against the Palestinians.’ ‘Israeli society is deeply ill, misinformed and entrenched in denial of rights to Palestinians.’
“Australian universities, not just the Senate at Sydney, must live with the repression imposed by rules derived from controversial definitions of anti-Semitism. Instead of challenging such developments, compliance by willing acceptance is judged the wisest response.
“Universities Australia’s definition of anti-Semitism acknowledges that racism exists in many forms, from anti-Semitism and Islamophobia to First Nations people’s experience of discrimination. But before October 2023, where was the evidence of anti-Semitism?”
Kicking the can down the road to a community forum without any decision-making powers is just another way for the University’s leadership to avoid the issue.
Kim Wingerei is a businessman turned writer and commentator. He is passionate about free speech, human rights, democracy and the politics of change. Originally from Norway, Kim first came to Australia in 1989. Author of ‘Why Democracy is Broken – A Blueprint for Change’.