Students use pink slips to vote. Photo: Oliver Wen
Nearly 800 University of Sydney students joined a historic student general meeting at Eastern Avenue Auditorium on Wednesday, August 7.
The meeting, organised by the University of Sydney Students’ Representative Council (SRC), aimed to vote on two pro-Palestine motions.
The first motion called for the university to cut ties with Israeli institutions and weapons manufacturers. It also called for the removal of the Campus Access Policy 2024 which students claim suppresses student activism.
The second motion affirmed the right of Palestinians to resist and support a single democratic state in Palestine. Both motions passed with overwhelming support from the student body.
SRC president Harrison Brennan opened the meeting, introducing the rules of the debates. Each mover presented for two minutes, followed by a speaker presenting a supporting or opposing view for 90 seconds. Students voted raising pink slips, with options to vote for, against, or abstain.
Student of Palestine group convenor and the deputy chair of the Student General Meeting (SGM), Jasmine AI Rawi, gave the opening speech.
“Thank you everyone for coming to the fifth student general meeting that the USYD SRC has ever hosted,” she said.
She noted that Sydney University has a very proud history of student general meetings.
“The first one was held in 1971 which was to oppose the Australian tour of the all-white South African rugby team which was playing here in Australia, while South Africa was under apartheid, while black people did not have the same right as white people. That Student General Meeting was then accompanied by a national protest movement to drive out the rugby team, and they won.
“So we’re living in a world with a lot of the worst brutality that we’ve seen in decades but I think there’s also hope. I think this meeting represents a lot of hope of what students can achieve when they fight together.”
She said it was one year since the “genocide in Palestine began”. “Palestinians, particularly children, the elderly, and women, have endured unimaginable horrors. We should all aspire to harness the power of students and ordinary people, showing what can be achieved when we unite to fight for justice and stand on the right side of history.”
Student presenting wearing a Palestinian flag. Photo: Rynn Hwang
Motions and Debate
The first motion called on the university to sever ties with Israel-linked organisations and for repealing the university’s Campus Access Policy 2024 which requires a 72-hour notice before protests happen.
SRC education officer Shovan Bhattarai spoke in support of the motion.“Our university has very, very strong partnerships with Israeli academic institutions, every one of which occupies stolen land, and maintains very close links with the Israeli military,” Bhattarai said.“Cutting ties with these organisations is not just a moral obligation; it’s a necessary step to ensure our university does not support or contribute to the ongoing genocide in Gaza.
“The new rules adopted under the Campus Access Policy are draconian and clearly intended to stifle our voices. Rescinding this policy is crucial for maintaining our freedom of expression on campus.”
Satvik Sharma, (a Liberal Candidate for Strathfield Councilor in the upcoming 2024 New South Wales Local Elections) then moved an amendment. He said the SRC should “condemn the attacks of October 7 and condemn the genocidal terrorist organisation Hamas.”
The move was voted down by the student body.
USYD Conservative Club President Freya Leach, wrapped in an Israeli flag, responded: “What we have just witnessed is this room vote against an amendment condemning a registered terrorist organisation and one of the worst attacks on Jews since the Holocaust. That’s disgraceful and anti-semitic,” she said.“You cannot say you support human rights and not condemn a radical jihadist terrorist regime that has caused the death of both Palestinians and Israelis.”
Freya Leach presenting with an Israeli flag. Photo: Oliver Wen
The atmosphere grew tense with students interrupting and yelling until the SRC team and university staff stepped in to restore order, allowing the debate to continue.
The initial motion received overwhelming support, with chants of “Free, Free, Palestine” echoing through the room.
The second motion affirmed the right of Palestinians to resist and support a single democratic and secular state in Palestine. Students Against War (SAW) member Jacob Starling spoke in support of the motion.
“This motion represents our stand for justice, supporting a single, democratic state where Palestinians can finally achieve self-determination and sovereignty,” he said. “We reject the two-state solution as a facade that allows ongoing occupation. A single, secular state is the only path to true peace.”
No one spoke against this motion which passed with strong support from the student body.
Students marching in front of Mark Scott’s office. Photo: Louis Issac
Jasmine Al-Rawi then called for the students to march to the office of Mark Scott, the Vice-Chancellor and President of USYD, to demand the implementation of the motions.
The meeting ended with chants of “Free Free Palestine” and “Free Free Gaza,” as students left the auditorium.
SRC President Harrison Brennan said they would continue the campaign if the university refused to meet student demands. They plan to mobilise the students who participated in the SGM and other supporters to sustain pressure on the university.
“Getting university to cut ties, getting university to divest, making sure our tuition fees are not going to violence, death and chaos will be our main focus,” said Brennan.
University response
On August 8, the day after the meeting, USYD issued a statement warning that any pro-terrorist statements, including support for Hamas, would result in disciplinary action and potential legal consequences.
The University dismissed the SGM turnout, saying participants were “less than one per cent of the student population, and do not represent the institution”. The University also announced an investigation of inappropriate conduct at the meeting, pointing out the importance of the Campus Access Policy 2024 to ensure safety on campus.
