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.

The University Activity Report: A CSG Victoria analysis of incidents on campus, released this week, provides insight into antisemitism on university campuses from the beginning of the academic year in late February until 31 May 2024.

‘I have hidden my cultural background’

The report also includes qualitative research about the experience of Jewish students on campus.

It shows many Jewish students are overwhelmingly feeling isolated, scared and distressed. Several students say they have stopped visibly displaying their Judaism and disclosing their heritage for fear of being targeted.

“I have hidden my cultural background in classes, changed how I introduce myself and stayed away from discussions that could potentially hinder my ability to learn collaboratively with my peers,” a Monash University student anonymously disclosed in a victim impact statement made to CSG.

Another student said: “I moved one of my classes in the first week of the semester, as someone was wearing a keffiyeh and giving me looks because of my Magen David necklace, which made me uncomfortable and on edge. I have subsequently decided to hide my necklace on campus, so I am not confronted by pro-Palestinian supporters.”

Some Jewish students have stopped attending in-person classes to avoid being on campus. Others reported being unable to focus on their studies.

“I had a test in the building next to the camp and the entire time they were chanting "intifada, intifada" which made me sick and unable to focus on my test,” one student said.

A student from La Trobe University reported: “A series of graphic, violent, and antisemitic posters… have made me feel unsafe and caused me to become anxious, unsafe, and intimidated while on campus. This all affected me to a point that I was unable to complete and subsequently fail a subject.”

Hostile and hateful rhetoric

An overwhelming majority (84) of reported incidents contained hostile or hateful rhetoric – ranging from verbal abuse and assault to threats and graffiti – with the remainder involving suspicious activity, such as individuals taking photos or videos of Jewish events.

The language used on campus “repeatedly and explicitly” referenced Zionism, with pro-Palestinian demonstrators expressing discrimination against, vilification of and threats of violence against Zionists. Phrases reported to CSG included “Clean the world of Zionism”, “Zionism is Terrorism”, “Zionism is racism”, and “Kick Zionists off Campus”, among several others.

Only incidents that occurred on a university campus and were reported directly to CSG are
included in the analysis. Online rhetoric was not included in the report.

‘No one really cares what Jewish students think’

There is significant hesitancy to report incidents on campus, both to CSG and Victoria Police. Only six students made a police statement following an incident, which has resulted in just one case being formally opened.

Fear of the incident being dismissed as trivial and the reporter’s links to their Judaism being exposed are key barriers stopping students disclosing their experiences.

“I have not reported any of these incidents, since for a long time, I rationalised them and convinced myself that none were enough to amount to legitimately threatening conduct. Since then, I have cried countless times,” a Monash University student told CSG.

“I could not report any of conduct for fear of being unjustly penalised in grading. Accepting [this] behaviour means that at any time I choose to display my ethnicity and religious beliefs, it is permissible for me to be the target of verbal and physical harassment. I refute this. But it seems that no one really cares what Jewish students think,” they continued.

Other students said fellow peers were unwilling to work with them on assignments or invite them to social events due to their Jewish identity.

CSG says it is worried about the long-term implications for Jewish student safety on university campuses.

“With rising hateful sentiment impacting Jewish students so severely that some are choosing to avoid campus altogether, CSG is concerned that, in the long-term, this may lead to a weakened Jewish presence on campus and an increasingly disenfranchised Jewish student body,” the report concluded.