RMIT drops misconduct case against student who accused university of being ‘complicit in Gaza genocide’ | Australian universities
RMIT University has dropped a misconduct case against a student who accused the institution of being “complicit in the genocide” in Gaza due to the defense and aerospace research centre’s ties to arms companies.
Guardian Australia this week revealed student Gemma Seymour faces possible suspension over a social media video calling for the closure of the university’s Sir Lawrence Wackett Defense and Aeronautics Centre.
RMIT argued that video recorded in a corridor of the center publicly identified its location, which was not posted online, thus putting the safety of the facility, staff and students at risk.
But in an email to Seymour on Wednesday afternoon, RMIT’s student management team said the case had been dropped.
“We would like to inform you that the notice of the Senior Officer Student Conduct hearing scheduled for 22 April 2026 will be withdrawn after review and will not proceed,” the email, seen by Guardian Australia, said.
Fine arts student Seymour said the withdrawal of the case was “a victory for the right to criticize war and genocide and the role our institutions play in the military supply chain.”
“This proves that students and staff will not be afraid of the university and that we will continue to fight against RMIT’s militarism,” he said.
“Freedom of expression and protest is a right that must be exercised, especially when our universities are complicit in genocide.”
When asked why the university dropped the case, RMIT issued the following statement:
“RMIT takes all matters relating to student conduct seriously and investigates each case in accordance with the University’s core values and policies,” an RMIT spokesperson said.
“Upon review of this case, the Student Conduct hearing notice was withdrawn.”
“RMIT supports the exercise of freedom of expression, debate and discourse among students, which is lawful and free from all forms of discrimination, and complies with the University’s student policies.”
In the video, posted on RMIT Palestine Students’ Instagram profile in August, Seymour stands outside the Sir Lawrence Wackett Defense and Aerospace Center on RMIT’s Melbourne city campus.
“There are no more excuses for RMIT. You have blood on your hands and we will not rest until you cut ties with all arms companies,” Seymour said in the video.
The title of the video includes the following statements: “Sir Lawrence Wackett Defense and Aviation Center should be closed. Our university should not be complicit in genocide.”
In a student conduct report sent to Seymour and reviewed by Guardian Australia, RMIT said research venues would pose a risk to the safety and security of staff if publicly posted on social media.
The report said RMIT considered Seymour may have breached its regulations, policies, procedures and rules with behavior or actions that “constituted misconduct”.
It also cited the potential for unwanted attention, harassment or threats to RMIT’s research facilities, staff and students.
The report stated that RMIT received an anonymous complaint about the video from an outside party.
The Sir Lawrence Wackett Defense and Aerospace Center is an interdisciplinary research group focusing on Australia’s defense and aerospace sectors.
It lists the Australian Defense Force, the US Department of Defense and Boeing as its partners and collaborators. Amnesty International has determined that weapons produced by Boeing were used in Israeli air strikes that killed civilians, including children, in Gaza.
In 2024, a wave of encampments at universities spread across the country, calling on the higher education sector to cut ties with arms manufacturers and condemn Israel’s war in Gaza.
