Jewish ANU students detail attacks, unis ‘in denial’ about anti-Semitism

Special Envoy to Combat Anti-Semitism Jillian Segal says universities are “in denial” about the anti-Semitic treatment of Jewish students, including at the Australian National University.

Ms Segal said there had been “a truly alarming increase in anti-Semitic incidents and discourse at Australian universities”, which had failed to take “appropriate action to denounce and suppress it”.

She called for leadership to attend workshops to learn how to “understand anti-Semitism and be equipped to deal with it”.

In a submission to a parliamentary inquiry examining whether to set up a judicial inquiry, Ms Segal quoted from ANU students recounting their experiences of anti-Semitism.

ANU students had been exposed to widely disseminated “public messaging and materials [with] anti-Semitic tropes such as the global domination/power trope”, she wrote.

“The message is not that the university condemns their actions,” said one ANU student quoted.

“The message is that the university kind of supports it, even if they’re not … [because they do not communicate any condemnation, and at most just remove anti-Semitic stickers and materials quietly out of hours]”.

A Senate committee is examining setting up a commission of inquiry into antisemitism on university campuses, in a bill pushed by Liberal senator Sarah Henderson in July.

Ms Segal’s office spoke with more than 65 Jewish students, academics and staff at universities across Australia.

All students interviewed described “the proliferation of posters and stickers on campus, many of which contained anti-Semitic content or anti-Israel content” as well as graffiti and signs that “sent a message that Jews and Israelis were unwelcome”, her submission said.

Another ANU student reported being attacked for congregating with fellow Jewish students, saying: “I went to a meeting as a Jewish student with my Jewish peers to talk about Jewish issues, and it was called a plot. I was just participating in democracy.”

The ANU, along with many other university campuses across Australia and other Western countries, has been the site of clashes between pro-Palestine protesters and Jewish students, which have escalated since Hamas’ October 7 attacks on Israel.

In May, the ANU confirmed it was investigating an allegation that a student made an anti-Semitic gesture at the annual general meeting of the ANU Students’ Association, after The Canberra Times was provided with a video of the incident.

Ms Segal urged the committee to set up a judicial inquiry to allow a full examination of the problem, allowing students to give evidence “confidently, and in private” and compelling universities to hand over documents.

She suggested the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency be given greater powers to ensure that universities comply with minimum standards and the law.

The Special Envoy, appointed by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in July, sought permission to make a late contribution to the inquiry beyond the September deadline, to allow her office to prepare the 57-page submission.

Jewish students report being targeted by academics, peers

Ms Segal told the hearing on Tuesday that Jewish students reported being singled out by lecturers and tutors, making them feel “harassed, uncomfortable and alone”.

When they spoke up, she said, Jewish students – particularly Israeli Jewish students – were advised to “study from home”.

An ANU student is quoted in the Special Envoy’s submission as saying that they feel “attacked” as a Zionist despite not identifying as one.

“And if the only thing that’s different between me and the Zionist students is a Jewish identity, then it is the Jewish identity being attacked,” the student said.

Another ANU student said their movement around the campus was restricted even when protesters’ tents were empty.

“I can’t cross the lawn because there was a tent there. I gave up that freedom for them to have their freedom of expression.”

The submission said that 80 per cent of student interviewees “experienced an antisemitic incident or discourse in a lecture or a tutorial”.

ANU defends freedom of expression on campus

A spokesperson for the Australian National University, which opted not to make a written submission, said in a statement that “ANU is a place of respectful debate”.

“We have a long history of student political engagement. All staff and students are free to express themselves in line with the University’s Code of Conduct and Australian law,” the statement said.

“We also have high expectations that all members of our community will ensure our campus remains an inclusive and safe space by behaving in a respectful manner, even when members of our community have different views on matters such as the conflict in the Middle East.

“This includes allowing ANU to deal with matters via our usual processes and refraining from engaging in any discriminatory or bullying behaviour – online, on or off campus.

“If any speech or actions discriminate or violate our Code of Conduct or Australian laws, we will take disciplinary action.”

ANU vice-chancellor Genevieve Bell is scheduled to appear before the inquiry on Friday.