So what happened to whom?

May 26, 2015 by J-Wire News Service
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The University of Sydney has reported on the outcome of its investigations “into the conduct of individuals during the incident at the University on March 11″….but the details are to remain in-house.

The investigation followed the interruption of a meeting at which British military expert Colonel Richard Kemp was speaking.

Associate Professor Jake Lynch [2nd rt] with banner    Photo: David Sokol/J-Wire

Associate Professor Jake Lynch [2nd rt] with banner Photo: David Sokol/J-Wire

The fracas involved confrontations between university staff and students and members of the audience at the lecture. The protestors drowned out the speaker and the university security was called in to deal with the disruption.

The university has issued the following statement:

BDS supporter Associate Professor Jake Lynch with security and audience members

BDS supporter Associate Professor Jake Lynch with security and audience members   Photo: David Sokol/J-Wire

“The University had previously identified that the conduct of various individuals (staff, students, contractors, affiliates and members of the public) fell short of the standards required by the University.

Those individuals were the subject of confidential investigations, whereby they were asked to respond to the University’s concerns about their behaviour.

A number of members of the University community and the public were found to have engaged in unsatisfactory conduct, as a result of which disciplinary action, including counselling, warning and suspension of access rights to the University grounds have been imposed.

University disciplinary processes are still underway in relation to five students (both protestors and members of the audience).

The University will not comment on the outcomes for any individual due to the confidentiality of the investigation process, and privacy rights of those individuals.  It does not propose to make any further statement in relation to this incident.”

A university spokesperson told J-Wire: “There will be no further comment.”

Security deals with protestors

Security deals with protestors

lk-1-2Executive director of The Executive Council of Australian Jewry Peter Wertheim told J-Wire: “Until we know precisely what disciplinary action has been taken, and against whom, it is difficult to come to any conclusions.  However, the University statement makes reference only to disciplinary action that includes “counselling, warning and suspension of access rights to the University grounds”. There is no mention of dismissals or reprimands.  If the disciplinary action does not include the latter, it would be very disappointing, and would reflect poorly on the University in the enforcement of its own standards.”

 

Comments

6 Responses to “So what happened to whom?”
  1. Leon Poddebsky says:

    Why would any Jewish student or parents of a Jewish student want to inflict on themselves the prevailing atmosphere at The University of Sydney?

  2. Leon Poddebsky says:

    Anyone considering a bequest or donation?
    Maybe the Emir of Qatar?

  3. Leon Poddebsky says:

    It was a foregone conclusion.
    Nice, hospitable place for Jews, eh?

  4. Jan Poddebsky says:

    The university has already compromised itself by not including all the ‘demonstrators’ in their net of inquiry. Failing to do so gives the green light for repeat performances under the protection of ‘right to demonstrate’ and with the cop out of not taking political sides. Letting Lynch off on his charge of anti-Semitic behaviour signals that that too is acceptable to the university where Jewish students already suffer abuse. One student told me he was saluted with ‘Heil Hitler’ at a uni party. This kind of abuse is now the norm apparently.

  5. Liat Nagar says:

    NOT GOOD ENOUGH! Not by a long shot. It seems there must be something to hide if the University of Sydney is not willing to be more transparent. When one considers the letter to the University forwarded by Col. Richard Kemp, which was highly critical and specific in that criticism, one would expect far more to follow the investigation than the weak generalisation offered.

  6. Rami Reed says:

    Whitewashing the actions of Jake Lynch by not taking public action very disappointing!

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