The useful idiots of Sydney University: a cautionary tale of ignorance and antisemitism
If you’ve ever wondered what “useful idiots” look like in 2025, the University of Sydney’s Student Representative Council (SRC) Special General Meeting (SGM) on 14 May provided a textbook case.

Michael Gencher
A small but vocal group passed motions rejecting the internationally recognised definition of antisemitism, calling for the destruction of Israel, and undermining university governance — all under the false banner of human rights.
The SRC declared, “there is nothing antisemitic about calling for the end of an apartheid state that is committing genocide.” This was not debate; it was a blatant attempt to legitimise antisemitic rhetoric. They reaffirmed support for a “single, secular, democratic state from the River to the Sea”—language synonymous with denying Israel’s right to exist. They demanded the revocation of the University’s Campus Access Policy, which helps maintain safety and order, and called for severing academic and research ties with Israeli institutions and defence companies. Student funds would be used to fuel these campaigns. All of this was pushed through by a fringe minority claiming to represent the entire student body.
The atmosphere was toxic. A handful of Jewish students attended, standing up to represent not just themselves, but the broader Jewish community. Their presence alone was courageous. When one defended the definition of antisemitism and Israel’s right to exist, many in the audience turned their backs — a calculated, humiliating gesture designed to silence Jewish voices. Given such hostility, it is no surprise that a handful of individual Jewish students felt safe enough to attend. Two of our StandWithUs Emerson Fellows were there. Both shared how intimidated they felt, yet they stood firm. That’s why showing up matters. Resilience is not optional. If we aren’t in the room to challenge lies, those lies take root.
The disgraceful conduct of the SGM was widely reported. Headlines such as “No Israel: Sydney Uni students turn their backs on Jewish peers” captured the shocking display of intolerance. For Jewish students, this was not merely alienating—it was frightening. The public display of such brazen antisemitism in an Australian university lecture hall was a moment of national shame.
The University of Sydney responded with carefully crafted statements, distancing itself from the SRC’s positions and reaffirming its commitment to combating antisemitism. Yet, reassurances are not enough. In September 2024, Vice-Chancellor Professor Mark Scott admitted before a Senate inquiry that the University had failed Jewish students. “I have failed them and the university has failed them,” he said. Despite promises and policy tweaks—like adopting definitions and adjusting protest rules—Jewish students and staff still report feeling unsafe. Words without action are meaningless. The University’s leadership must understand that the issue isn’t procedural — it’s cultural. A toxic, exclusionary culture cannot be solved with statements alone.
The consequences are profound. Jewish students now face a campus environment where their identity and history are openly delegitimised. The University’s reputation is on the line — not just domestically, but globally. Academic freedom is threatened when political activists dictate which collaborations are “acceptable.” And perhaps most dangerously, the SRC has decided it alone will define what is and isn’t antisemitic. This sends a chilling message: “We will decide when Jewish people are allowed to feel targeted.” This is not just offensive — it is dangerous.
We cannot, and must not, allow antisemites and their apologists to dictate the definition of antisemitism. Allowing those who perpetuate antisemitic tropes to redraw these boundaries is an outrageous betrayal of the values universities claim to uphold. When antisemitism becomes normalised under the guise of activism, we all have a moral obligation to push back—not only for the Jewish community, but for the integrity of respectful discourse in a free society.
This isn’t just a USYD problem. It’s a national issue. Universities shape the next generation of leaders, thinkers, and influencers. If antisemitism is allowed to flourish unchallenged in these spaces, it poisons public discourse and corrodes our shared democratic values. What happens on campus inevitably seeps into broader society.
The events of 14 May are a wake-up call. When a student council becomes a platform for demonisation and historical erasure, when ignorance is weaponised as activism, and when antisemitism is excused as political critique, we cannot afford to stay silent. The line between free speech and targeted hate must be drawn—and defended. This requires not only vigilance but courage — from university leadership, community organisations, and every Australian who believes in fairness and truth.
At StandWithUs, we believe education is the most powerful antidote to hate. Our mission is to expose these manipulations, empower students with facts, and ensure that truth is not drowned out by slogans and misinformation. Jewish students must know they are not alone. Community allies, university leadership, and the broader public must show up — vocally, visibly, and consistently. The SRC’s actions have made their agenda plain. Now, it falls to us to ensure their ignorance does not go unchallenged.
The useful idiots of Sydney University have revealed themselves. We will not let their actions be ignored, excused, or repeated.
A most excellent response, Michael Gencher. Absolutely true, every word of it. We must all have the courage and the resolve to take part in fighting this everywhere it emerges.
I have been at a Sydney University public meeting of ‘Socialist Alternative’ (pre October 7, 2023) where the usual topic that stirs ire in the group was discussed. Jews were present in small numbers and I witnessed aggressive language and posturing that was clearly intimidatory to Jewish students. One young student took a photo of one of the speakers and instantly people aggressively stepped up towards her insisting that the photo was to be deleted as they watched and verified. I stood up between them arguing that it was a public meeting in which photographs can be legitimately taken. The young Jewish girl was clearly frightened and was able to slip away from the venue while I argued the legalities with the anti Zionist thugs. These thugs can get to be intimidatory but we must stand up to them anyway we can. I quite enjoyed the midnight shofar blast that aroused the Sydney University encampment from their slumber on the lawns in front of Fisher Library and alongside the Great Hall.
Adam