Students for Palestine: statement on Monash education officer
Posted by John, March 25th, 2009 - under Free speech, Israel, Palestine, Students for Palestine, Universities.
Here is a statement from the cross-campus Students for Palestine on Monash Uni and Students Association’s action in threatening to discpline the Monash Education officer for his help with the Palestine solidarity campaign.
Monash University, in collusion with the Monash Student Association, has threatened to discipline the education officer, Omar Hassan, for his participation in the Palestine solidarity campaign.
The Victorian Students for Palestine is disgusted by this blatant act of political censorship.
We believe that it is imperative for all people who are concerned by the deadly, racist and humiliating policies of Israel towards the Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank, to join us in the solidarity campaign.
This is only more important following recent revelations of systemic racism in the Israeli military.
We fully support Omar in his work for the campaign and call on all student unions to demonstrate their support also.
The Monash Student Association has a long history of support for political campaigns, including those against the Vietnam War and apartheid in South Africa to name just two.
We call on the Monash Student Association to affirm this proud history by refusing to take action against Omar.
Further, we strongly condemn Monash University for this biased interference in student affairs.
Victorian Students for Palestine
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Time May 10, 2009 at 8:02 pm
[...] Students for Palestine: statement on Monash education officer [...]
Comment from Corey
Time March 25, 2009 at 1:49 pm
The following press statement on this issue was also put out yesterday.
Anger is developing amongst Monash University students following unprecedented moves by senior members of the university administration to pressure an elected student union official about his campaign activities. Monash Chancellor, Dr Alan Finkel, contacted the President of the Monash Student Association to argue that a campaign being run by an elected student representative is “unconstitutional”.
“It is disgraceful that the Chancellor of Monash University feels that he has the right to silence elected student representatives” said Omar Hassan, Education Officer at the Monash Student Association.
“Student unions must have the freedom to run whatever campaigns we determine are relevant to our members. The University cannot and should not intrude into student union matters.” Mr Hassan went on to say.
“In Australian history, students have been central to challenging homophobia, sexism, war and apartheid, even when these struggles were unpopular or controversial. This is why the Liberal government introduced Voluntary Student Unionism. They wished to gag students’ voice.”
“This incident highlights the need to campaign against VSU until independent political representation for students is fully guaranteed.”
Mr Hassan has been actively involved in a campaign of solidarity for the people of Palestine.
This campaign, which began during Israel’s recent military assault on Gaza, has been gathering momentum. “It is hard to believe that this unprecedented intervention by the University is not an attempt to silence growing student opposition to Israel’s violence towards the Palestinians” Mr Hassan said.
The above statement was released on Tuesday March 24.
For more information please contact Colleen Bolger – Monash student and former NUS Education Officer. 0449 678 621