The Government has ordered universities to crack down on campus antise | Politics | News
Universities have been instructed to combat antisemitism on campuses and could lose funding if they fail to act. Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson has written to vice-chancellors telling them to take “practical and proportionate steps” to protect Jewish students from harassment.
This follows concern that protests against the conflict in Gaza following the Manchester synagogue attack sometimes provide a platform for prejudice. Ms Phillipson said: “Legal protest must be respected – but there is no room for harassment or intimidation on our campuses. One example of anti-Semitic abuse is too many, so I am clear – the onus remains on universities when it comes to clearing their campuses of hate, and they have my full support in using their power to do this.”
Under the new rules, which will come into force this August, universities must have clear policies to prevent and tackle all forms of harassment, including strong reporting mechanisms, appropriate support and comprehensive training for both students and staff.
The government has made clear that institutions must support lawful protests, but this does not include harassment, intimidation or incitement to violence. Colleges should manage protests in a way that allows all students to fully participate in college life; This may include banning frequent demonstrations outside residence halls or religious sites.
The Union of Jewish Students will run 600 training sessions to help university staff support students, identify harassment and hate, and facilitate open, respectful discussion.
Institutions that fail to comply may be sanctioned by the Registrar’s Office, which has the power to impose fines or deregister an institution; This means the institution is no longer eligible for government funding.
Ms Phillipson will also bring together university leaders, the Office for Students, police and faith leaders for talks on tackling bigotry on campuses.
In addition, the Department for Education is stepping up the fight against antisemitism in schools with £4 million to support projects that teach pupils how to spot misinformation online and promote interfaith understanding, and is supporting a £2 million program run by the Holocaust Education Foundation to enable secondary school students in England to learn about the Holocaust through the testimonies of survivors.
