Encampments spur violence on campus, new research finds

The longer pro-Palestinian encampments exist on campus, the more violent they are likely to become, new data from the Community Security Group (CSG) Victoria shows.

CSG recorded 91 incidents on Victorian university campuses in the first semester of 2024, roughly three-quarters (68) of which occurred after the encampments commenced on April 25.

The types of attacks experienced by Jewish students became worse as the encampments continued. Between April 29 and May 3, incidents moved from graffiti, paraphernalia and stickers at the beginning of the week, to verbal abuse and threats on May 2, and a recorded assault on May 3.

Incidents were most likely to occur within the first three weeks of an encampment being established, echoing trends experienced on campuses overseas.

Most identified perpetrators of serious incidents were found not to belong to the university, supporting the contention that outside agitators are contributing to an unsafe environment for Jewish students on campus.

The 91 incidents recorded in one semester are a dramatic spike on previous years. Only 11 incidents were recorded on university campuses in 2023, nine of which were after October 7, and there was just one incident in 2022.