How Deakin University tried to trample on students’ rights—and failed

In June, I became the first and only Victorian university student suspended for leading a Gaza solidarity encampment. In the last week of August, after months of bureaucratic disciplinary procedures and a fightback against the university, that suspension was overturned.

Our solidarity encampment was four days old when Deakin University charged me with misconduct. We set up tents in the centre of campus, establishing a peaceful protest expressing opposition to Israel’s genocide in Gaza, and joining the global solidarity movement with the Palestinians. We also wanted to pressure the university to break partnerships with weapons manufacturers.

Deakin aspires to be Australia’s “most progressive university”. However, it was one of the most authoritarian universities in the country in terms of handling the encampment. Management taped off 200 metres of the campus walkway to block students from getting close to the tents.

Security guards asked any student walking through, even those on their way to class, to show their identification card. The university repeatedly deleted emails about the camp from staff inboxes, issued misconduct warnings to every student identified as having slept at the camp, and initiated lengthy discipline processes against two students.

The university trampled on the right to free speech, the right to peacefully protest, even the right to a fair trial.

The chair of the misconduct committee that suspended me recused herself from the hearing of another student immediately after being accused of political bias.

I was not provided with any complaints made against me before or during the hearing. After much campaigning—by me, other students and staff—and with the help of the Human Rights Legal Centre and the Jewish Council of Australia, who wrote to Deakin on my behalf, the decision was declared a mistrial.

I won the right to another hearing with an entirely new committee, which overturned my suspension.

This is a huge win for the right to protest on campus. The encampment at Deakin was one of nine encampments established around the country, all of which faced backlashes from university managers and supporters of Israel.

In Victoria, more than 30 students were threatened with discipline. Now, all of us have won and can continue standing up for Palestinian justice and for an end to the horrific bombing of Gaza.

It’s appalling that Deakin dragged me and other students through months of bureaucratic disciplinary procedures for protesting against genocide. But I know that we’re on the right side of history.

Every university in the Gaza Strip has been bombed. Students like me have a responsibility to stand up for the students there who are being denied a voice—or their lives.

Renee Nayef is a member of Students for Palestine and Socialist Alternative.