NTEU branches pass Palestinian solidarity motions
The motions decried “Israel’s violent ethnic cleansing and settler-colonialism”
May 27, 2021
On Wednesday, the University of Sydney and UNSW branches of the National Tertiary Education Union (NTEU) both passed motions calling on members to “participate in active solidarity with Palestinian members, including in ongoing demonstrations.”
The USyd motion passed with 78% of members in favour, while 9% were against and 12% abstained.
The motions decried “Israel’s violent ethnic cleansing and settler-colonialism” and “call[ed] attention to” appeals for “academics worldwide to boycott Israeli universities until such time as…basic prerequisites for justice were achieved.”
The USyd motion noted that 70 members of staff had pledged to “not engage in any professional association with Israeli academic, research or government institutions…until Israel complies with international law and elementary principles of
Staff and students speak out against campus surveillance
Protestors spoke out against the recently uncovered pattern of University surveillance practices.
May 11, 2021
Protestors took to campus today to express their rage towards a series of documents revealing extensive surveillance of campus activism by the university and police.
Lamenting the brutal treatment and mishandling of students and staff at education protests last year, Former SRC Education Officer Jazzlyn Breen said “it’s clear that, in management’s eyes, the duty of care to protect students ends when those students’ political interests do not align with the profit-making interests of the university.”
She also noted that police officers that come onto campus don’t just do the bidding of the University, but “the bidding of the racist, colonialist state of Australia”.
Responding to crisis and the future of university organising honisoit.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from honisoit.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
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The University of Sydneyâs incoming vice-chancellor, former ABC managing director Mark Scott, is already facing opposition from his future academic staff who question how a leader without a scholarly background can understand their institution.
However, others say the struggling university sector needs leaders with experience in winning support from politicians and the public, and believe other institutions hunting for vice-chancellors may follow. The University of NSW, which has only just begun its search, also approached Mr Scott, multiple sources told the
Herald.
Credit:Rhett Wyman
Mr Scott, the current secretary of the NSW Department of Education, will be the only vice-chancellor without a doctorate at a top 100 university when he takes over his new position in late July.
New Sydney uni vice-chancellor Mark Scott faces academics ire watoday.com.au - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from watoday.com.au Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.