A distinguished physics professor at the University of Melbourne has described how a harrowing campus protest, which saw his office invaded by demonstrators, has profoundly altered his life and safety on campus. The academic's testimony comes amid growing concerns over antisemitism within higher education institutions.

Professor Steven Prawer recounted a distressing incident in 2024 when a group of protesters, some concealing their identities with masks and keffiyehs, entered his office as part of a demonstration against global conflicts. The individuals reportedly refused to leave until police were called to intervene, creating a highly intimidating environment for Professor Prawer and his colleagues.

A Confrontation That Shattered Campus Serenity

During the confrontation, Professor Prawer described being subjected to direct verbal abuse as he attempted to leave his office. "They screamed after me as I was trying to leave the office, 'Prawer, Prawer, you can't hide you're guilty of genocide'," he stated. He emphasized that the protest was not merely disruptive to him, but also to other staff members present both inside and outside his office.

For Professor Prawer, the incident represented a significant breach of the fundamental principles of university life. He lamented the departure from an environment where, despite strong disagreements, individuals are expected to engage with respect. "It's just beneath contempt, it's just not the way that we want to behave at university, even if we have very strong disagreements, we treat each other with respect," he articulated, adding that the students involved 'broke all the rules of academic discourse that we treasure in the university'.

Personal Security and the Erosion of Academic Freedom

The aftermath of the protest has led to permanent changes in Professor Prawer's personal and professional life. He revealed that he has installed security cameras at his home, and his family is now acutely aware of the need for heightened security precautions. Similarly, his campus work life has been fundamentally altered, with additional security measures implemented that have curtailed the spontaneous academic exchanges he once valued.

He reflected on this shift, noting, "That's the price we pay for having security and not being able to have free discussions, but rather discussions that have to be orchestrated." This, he argues, has severely restricted the free flow of discussion and information essential to a thriving academic community.

Calls for Greater University Accountability

Professor Prawer expressed deep disappointment with what he perceived as a muted response from the broader university community. He was particularly dismayed by a petition that emerged days after the incident, signed by 150 of his colleagues, which appeared in Overland magazine. This petition reportedly defended the protest as acceptable and argued against disciplinary action for the students, stating that the staff did not view the demonstration as antisemitic and supported highlighting the university's partnership with Hebrew University.

While initially two students were expelled and two suspended, Professor Prawer noted that these penalties were subsequently reduced upon appeal. However, he remains dissatisfied that the university has not publicly disclosed the revised penalties or the identities of the students involved. The University of Melbourne declined to comment on these specific details, though then Vice-Chancellor Duncan Maskell had previously condemned the students' actions as "completely and utterly unacceptable and stands in direct opposition to the values we hold as a university."

Royal Commission and Broader Concerns

Professor Prawer is slated to provide evidence before the Royal Commission on Antisemitism and Social Cohesion, where he will detail his experiences and advocate for measures to ensure Jewish students and staff feel secure and welcome on campus. The commission has already heard harrowing testimonies from other Jewish students, including accounts of being spat on and subjected to slurs like "Nazis" and "baby killers." Conversely, a Jewish student from Students for Palestine, Yasmine Johnson, defended the protests as "anti-racist" demonstrations.

Professor Prawer is an active member of the Australian Academic Alliance Against Antisemitism (5A) and hopes his advocacy will lead to a firm commitment to eradicating antisemitism from university campuses. "What I hope that will come out of this is a deep commitment to getting rid of antisemitism on campus or at least pushing it to the extremes," he stated, emphasizing that the issue extends beyond physical safety to the fundamental sense of being welcome within the academic community. Interim Vice-Chancellor Glyn Davis is also expected to appear before the commission, along with leaders from other major Australian universities.