Pearls and Irritations

In an open letter, health leaders have urged the University of Melbourne to drop disciplinary action against 21 students involved in activism for Gaza.

During months-long campaigning, which involved rallies, petitions, meetings and an encampment, the students called for the university to disclose and divest its ties to weapons manufacturers supplying the Israeli Occupation Forces.

The open letter is signed by Professor Rob Moodie AM and Associate Professor Tilman Ruff AO, at the Nossal Institute for Global Health in the School of Population and Global Health, University of Melbourne, Dr Sue Wareham OAM, President of the Medical Association for Prevention of War, and the committee of the Health Students Association for the Prevention of War. Moodie and Ruff are also National Councillors of the MAPW.

The letter – published in full below – says that “intimidating university community members and seeking to silence diverse perspectives by accusing students of being a threat to safety damages the principles of free speech on campus”.

Amnesty International Australia has also urged universities to protect students’ right to protest.

“Disciplinary action against students only serves to unfairly restrict students’ right to protest, and Amnesty calls on the university to work with students to facilitate their right to peacefully protest instead of punishing them,” Amnesty says in a statement.

This article was updated on 18 July with a response from the University of Melbourne.

The letter reads:

Dear Vice-Chancellor, Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Panel members,

We are writing in support of the 21 students who have been identified as participants in the student protests in the Arts West Building on the Parkville campus.

We urge that all disciplinary action be dropped.

This conflict in Gaza has created a humanitarian crisis and public health emergency that are still worsening.

Over 100,000 people have been killed or maimed. By the end of May, around 60 percent of all buildings, including dwellings, shops and infrastructure, such as hospitals and schools; and nearly 70 percent of water, sanitation and hygiene facilities across the Gaza Strip were damaged or destroyed. All universities in Gaza have been severely damaged.

In June UNRWA said 50,000 children needed urgent treatment for starvation. According to the latest UN-partnered IPC report, 96 percent of the population – some 2.15 million people – face acute food insecurity at a “crisis” level or higher.

Adele Khor, UNICEF Regional Director for the Middle East and North Africa, said “Horrific images continue to emerge from Gaza of children dying before their families’ eyes due to the continued lack of food, nutrition supplies, and the destruction of healthcare services,”

Meanwhile, very few supplies are entering the enclave, and only five WHO trucks were allowed in last week.

University of Melbourne students’ concerns about this war – and their need to act on these concerns – are entirely legitimate, and are in keeping with the University’s stated vision of education as equipping individuals to create “a more just, fair, and inclusive community.”

Indeed, one of the four nationally recognised key graduate outcomes for medical students is health advocacy. Fundamental skills that studying at university aims to develop are critical and independent thought and action. The university claims to promote and value peace, human rights and democratic participation.

The students’ demands of the university itself – to disclose links to weapons companies profiting from human suffering in Gaza, and to divest from these companies – are also legitimate.

We have raised concerns about this same issue with University leadership since 2016. The arms industry has a devastating impact on global public health, and facilitates egregious violations of human rights around the world.

There are no sound ethical, academic, or financial reasons for the University of Melbourne to maintain any links of any kind with the industry. Student protestors were correct to demand disclosure and divestment, and the University was wrong not to respond immediately and transparently.

Intimidating university community members and seeking to silence diverse perspectives by accusing students of being a threat to safety damages the principles of free speech on campus. There was no evidence of safety concerns when the tertiary education union’s health and safety officers inspected the building during the protests.

The fundamental human right of peaceful assembly and association is enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. The UN Human Rights Committee outlines the rights to peaceful assembly. Authorities must accommodate spontaneous protests for which notification is not practicable or appropriate. The Committee notes that disruptive consequences of peaceful assemblies “do not call into question the protection such assemblies enjoy”.

Freedom of assembly is also an important principle rooted in Australia’s Constitution, common law, and general democratic principles. Having to apply to authorities for a permit to protest undermines the right to protest.

Spontaneous, protracted, messy, inconvenient and confronting student protests have been central to meaningful change on many issues, including the Vietnam and Iraq wars, and First Nations’ and LGBTQI+ rights, and have changed our society – and our universities – for the better.

Misconduct notices should not be used to intimidate students, and disciplinary action is not acceptable.

The Medical Association for Prevention of War defends the rights of University of Melbourne students to act on their conscience, and to assemble and protest peacefully without sanction.

We urge the University of Melbourne in the strongest possible terms to cease disciplinary action against students or any other members of the university community involved in peaceful assembly and protest.

Yours sincerely,

Dr Sue Wareham OAM MBBS, President, Medical Association for Prevention of War

Associate Professor Tilman Ruff AO MB, BS (Hons), FRACP, National Councillor, MAPW

Professor Rob Moodie AM MBBS (UniMelb) MPH FAPHM FRACGP DTMH, of Global Health at the Nossal Institute of Global Health University of Melbourne, National Councillor, MAPW

The Committee of Health Students Association for the Prevention of War

University of Melbourne response

Professor Nicola Phillips, Provost says:

“Freedom of speech is foundational to our values and policies at the University of Melbourne. We have consistently stated that we recognise the right of students and staff to participate in peaceful protest.”

University of Melbourne spokesperson says: 

“The University is currently progressing a range of matters in relation to student conduct. We will not be commenting on individual matters, in line with our confidentiality requirements and our commitment to procedural fairness under University policy. The University is in direct communication with individuals as required in relation to these matters.” 

 

Republished from CROAKEY HEALTH MEDIA, July 17, 2024

Editor: Alison Barrett