Sydney University Swiftly Addresses Concerns Following Controversial Incident
During an Orientation Week event, a student group presented an inflammatory slide on the Israel-Palestine conflict and antisemitism at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music.
Sydney Conservatorium of Music
Sydney University has taken swift action to address concerns within the Jewish and broader community.
The university swiftly condemned the presentation, emphasizing that the content “does not reflect the University’s position.” A spokesperson stated, “We are deeply disappointed that students used an event meant to welcome new and returning students to campus to make these statements, knowing how upsetting they could be for some.” The university also reaffirmed its broader commitment to safety and inclusivity, saying, “We strongly support the right of everyone on our campuses to feel safe and welcome, and respect the ability of our students to express their opinions and political views consistent with our policies and codes. We will take action if there has been a breach of our policies or codes of conduct.”
Sydney Conservatorium of Music Dean, Professor Anna Reid, clarified that the slides were presented by an independently run student group and “do not reflect the university’s position.”
At a meeting with representatives of the Jewish community, Vice Chancellor Mark Scott and senior university leadership reaffirmed the university’s commitment to ensuring campus safety and inclusivity. The meeting included representatives from the Australasian Union of Jewish Students (AUJS), Michele Goldman, CEO of the NSW Jewish Board of Deputies, Shana Kerlander, CEO of Mandelbaum House, University Chaplain Rabbi Eli Feldman, and Jewish academics including Dr. Michael Abrahams-Sprod. University officials, including Scott, engaged directly with the concerns raised by the Jewish community regarding the incident and broader issues of antisemitism on campus.
The controversy erupted after the Sydney Conservatorium Students’ Association displayed a slide at an official Orientation Week event on Monday, February 17, which claimed, “Israel is committing a genocide against Palestine, attacks on citizens in Lebanon, and is in blatant violation of international law.” The slide further attributed the global rise in antisemitism to “Israel’s conflation of Judaism with their actions in the Levant” and encouraged students, as “artists and storytellers,” to advocate for political change.
The Sydney Conservatorium Students’ Association, which had organized the presentation, acknowledged the backlash and released a statement expressing regret. “We are aware that one slide within the presentation has caused immense distress amongst members of the Jewish community, and to them we sincerely apologise and express our remorse for our mistake,” the statement read. The association explained that the slide’s content was based on a previously published statement about the war in Gaza from October 2023, which had been “informed by Jewish members of our executive.” While the presentation aimed to highlight available student support services, the association admitted that the slide was an “oversight” and unintentionally implied blame toward Jewish individuals rather than a government. “Instead of creating a place where everyone is welcome to create their art, we created division,” the statement acknowledged.
The association reiterated its condemnation of all forms of racism, including antisemitism and Islamophobia. “We do not tolerate any racism or bigotry… and we shall do what we can to ensure that our school of music remains a safe place for expression of self and culture for all.”
Rabbi Feldman praised the university’s prompt response, describing it as “decisive and proactive.” He noted that leadership was taking firm steps to prevent further tensions on campus. “They made it very clear there won’t be any encampments. That’s not going to happen,” he stated, referencing last year’s campus protests.
Scott also committed to ongoing dialogue with Jewish community representatives and proposed regular meetings throughout the year to monitor progress. As Sydney University moves forward with these measures, its ability to maintain a safe and inclusive environment will be closely observed in the coming months.
