Sydney University apologises after threatening international MALAYSIAN student with possible suspension over Palestine protest
The student, who is transgender, said she feared deportation after allegedly writing protest messages on campus whiteboards
The University of Sydney has apologised after initially telling a transgender international student she could face suspension after she allegedly wrote messages accusing the university of complicity in genocide in Gaza on campus whiteboards.
The university has since said the threat of suspension, contained in a misconduct notice, was the result of an “administrative error”, though the misconduct proceedings are ongoing.
The Malaysian student, who did not want to use their name for fear of being reprimanded, is seeking asylum while on a student (subclass 500) visa and said the initial misconduct notice made them fear they would face deportation.
On 3 February, the University’s Office of the Academic Registrar wrote to the student alleging they had entered multiple tutorial rooms and written messages of protest with a green marker on whiteboards.
The statements included “from the river to the sea Palestine will be free”, accusations the university invested in weapons manufacturing and “supported genocide in Gaza”, as well as statistics of the death toll in Gaza.
“The green marker that you used above was not a whiteboard marker, and the text you wrote was difficult to remove from the whiteboards,” the registrar wrote.
The registrar alleged the student had breached university policies, constituting misconduct, including its student discipline rule and newly updated campus access policy which required the university to receive prior approval of protest activity and for demonstrations to be held in open spaces without damaging property.
It also alleged she had breached the university’s advertising on campus policy clause which banned graffiti or attaching posters and notices outside of “noticeboards erected around the university for students’ use”.
The registrar gave the student until 14 February to offer a written response or attend a preliminary meeting. The likely penalty range if she admitted to the conduct was exclusion from the university, suspension from the university or a potential reprimand, the registrar wrote. If she denied it, further investigation might follow.
The student was also told to keep the alleged conduct and process confidential or face disciplinary action.
In her written response, the student said she was under “extreme duress” and seeking asylum in Australia “due to immense violence and persecution in my home country, Malaysia”.
She requested an extension to 21 March when she would hold a bridging visa and would be “able to assess this matter in a clear-headed fashion, without worrying about being deported to danger”.
“If the student affairs unit suspends my studies, I will be at immediate risk of deportation from Australia,” she wrote.
“As a transgender woman, I have been denied access to gender-affirming care, including hormone replacement therapy, in Malaysia and can only access essential health care in Australia,” she wrote.
On Wednesday the university issued a statement noting it was aware of “concerns raised” by the student and had “identified that an appendix to the notice contained an administrative error relating to the likely penalties that would be imposed”.
“The error is being rectified and the student will be provided with the correct information, advice and relevant support as a priority. The student will also be provided with an extension of time to provide her response.
“We apologise for this error and any distress caused.”
On Thursday, the university said it had apologised directly to the student and offered “any appropriate support that might be required”.
“The safety and wellbeing of our community is our prime concern at all times, and we deeply regret any confusion or distress relating to this issue,” they said.
Wendy Thompson, a queer officer on the university’s Student Representative Council, said they were “absolutely appalled” to learn about the proceedings taken against the student.
“The policies wielded against the student are overly punitive and discriminatory,” they said. “While students face increasing course cuts while paying exorbitant fees to study, they are silenced when speaking out against failings of the university.”
It comes as the University of Melbourne on Monday banned indoor protests, following a pro-Palestine encampment that extended to the occupation of a department building for more than a week.
A spokesperson for the university said its campus access policy had been updated “to ensure the safety of our diverse community while upholding our core values of academic freedom and freedom of speech”.
“Regardless of the recent updates to our policies we have always been clear with students that misuse of university facilities, including damaging property, could constitute misconduct,” they said.
Overseas students should focus on their studying.
ReplyDeleteTheir heavy education cost is almost certainly being borne by their family or some government or other institution.
By all means they can remain politically engaged, but DO NOT engage in stupid behaviour.
Mfer, what's yr definition of stupid behaviour of the oversea tertiary students?
Delete