New Sydney Uni chancellor aims to stamp out antisemitism

The new chancellor of Australia’s oldest university, business leader David Thodey, has admitted the University of Sydney “must do more’’ to protect Jewish students on campus.

“We have seen the unacceptable rise of antisemitism on our campuses and in our society,’’ Thodey said in his first official speech.

“I want to be very clear: we do not – and we will not – condone any form of racism, threats to safety, hate speech, intimidation, threatening speech, bullying or unlawful harassment.”

The university now requires all protesters to give 72 hours’ notice of rallies and seek permission to use megaphones. It is reviewing rules for advertising or flying flags on campus, and has increased security and monitoring.

Educational programs “specifically addressing antisemitism’’ will be developed and shared with students during the orientation period of each semester.

Thodey’s comments come as vice-chancellor Mark Scott resists calls to resign for failing to protect Jewish students.

Scott told a Senate committee last month that testimonials by Jewish staff were “heartbreaking and unacceptable, and for that I am sorry”. When pressed on whether this amounted to a failure of leadership, Scott said, “Yes, I have failed them and the uni­versity has failed them.”

Thodey said he and the university were fully committed to ­working with Scott “to ensure that our university environment is free from any form of discrimination’’.