On Wednesday 9 October around 200 students, staff, and members of the Dunedin public marched from the Otago Museum Reserve, through the Link (the University of Otago’s primary ‘hub’) and to the University of Otago Clocktower, singing and chanting as they went – calling for Boycott, Divestment and Sanction action against Israel. The action was called by Otago Students for Justice in Palestine (OSJP), following months of organising, prior rallies and, reportedly, meetings with University leadership and OUSA leadership where they have been treated largely as a fringe interest group to be managed, rather than a moral force to be engaged with.
University of Otago’s prepared strawmen and OUSA’s ‘both-siding’ in meetings with OSJP are the context for the frustration building within the University community, and why an escalation was called on Wednesday. After speeches from two students and one academic (Dr David Jenkins articulated the arguments against the institution’s supposed “neutrality”) a student and OSJP organiser put forth the call: “We’re gonna go into that Clocktower, and plant ourselves on the steps of the foyer and stay there until action is taken!”
If you have only read about these events in news media, you would understand what happened next to be wilful damage to the Clocktower, undertaken by a group of violent vandals. So implied the statements put forth by Vice Chancellor Grant Robertson on behalf of the institution (more on that below).
Fortunately, one OSJP organiser caught everything on camera. A large Campus Watch (the University of Otago’s pastoral care labour force) worker was grappling a young woman half his size, and crashed them through the glass door, slicing her open. She was then arrested for wilful damage, though this charge was amended to disorderly conduct when police were shown the footage. None of this was shared with news media by the University – only misinformation that implied that the students were intentionally destructive.
Outside the Clocktower, a handful of non-students (including University academics, general staff and a bloc of four or five Green Party MPs) confronted local police as they barked orders and manhandled students. At least one University worker was threatened with arrest for obstruction for speaking to police. Green Party MP Francisco Hernandez was singled out by OSJP organisers as “fucking amazing” for his part in standing up to the cops.
Following the damage to the door, OSJP organisers made the call to fall back to the Clocktower lawn to sing and chant, while damage and injury was assessed. The arrested student was carted off to the police station, and released shortly after. Other attempts were made to enter the Clocktower, but were short-lived. In the following hours one-sided or false narratives were spread by everyone from Radio New Zealand to Zionist Libertarian ideologue Eric Crampton, until the footage was released in the evening.
Correcting the Narrative
The following day, Grant Robertson was scheduled to give an arts lecture, which was then canceled due to security concerns (presumably also due to OSJP students vocally questioning him at a prior peace lecture). However, Grant Robertson was holding a VC All Staff forum that day, which proceeded as planned. The protest action was lightly alluded to in Grant’s presentation, as well as a welcome announcement that the University would be launching a working group to review the institution’s policy towards “institutional neutrality” (indicating movement in regards to a hitherto immovable position). Once the presentation wrapped up, staff were invited to ask questions. I, the author, took the mic and read out the following:
I’m feeling really quite distressed about the state of some of this institution’s public communications. I think it’s important to address this here, in the spirit of openness and pono – integrity, one of our core values.
I appreciate that it’s uncomfortable, and us Kiwis tend to cringe at adversarial discomfort, but this does matter.
As most of you will know, yesterday a couple of hundred students and others in the university community held a peaceful march from the museum to the clocktower, chanting and singing, calling for the University to open its books and disclose any investments funding Israel’s genocide of Palestine. As this closed, students attempted to stage a sit-in at the clocktower. Most of us didn’t see what actually happened. News outlets started reporting, quoting you Grant, referencing vandalism and disorderly action by protestors.
But then the actual footage was released. A large campus watch worker was grappling a young woman, half his size, and crashed them through the glass door, slicing her open. Proctor Dave Scott stood between the students’ first aid volunteer and the assaulted student. None of this was shared with media by the University – only the slandering of the students.
For context and to explain what I’m asking here, I’m going to read out two short statements made to news media.
Statement 1: – Palestine protest
University of Otago Vice-Chancellor Grant Robertson said it was “important that students and staff are able to express their views and protest within the law”.
“However, there is no place for vandalism or disorderly actions, particularly when the safety of others including staff and students is put at risk.
“This protest crossed that line. This is against the kaupapa of our community and is not welcome.”
Statement 2: – ‘Everything Room’ occupation in 2023
University of Otago’s Acting Vice-Chancellor Prof Tony Ballantyne said peaceful protest has a long tradition at the university, and it was important that students and staff were able to express their views and protest within the law.
‘‘However, there is no place for vandalism or disorderly actions, particularly when the safety of others is put at risk,‘‘ Prof Ballantyne said.
‘‘This is against the kaupapa of our community and is not welcome. We are supporting the Police in their investigation.’’
So these are the same words. These are canned statements, sanitised and sent to media to protect the university’s reputation, rather than engaging honestly with the issues raised.
So I have two questions.
One: Will you apologise to the young woman who was assaulted by campus watch, by setting the record straight in the media?
Two: Will you commit to meaningfully engaging with the university community and no longer use those canned statements?
Robertson was visibly somewhat uncomfortable, and once this contribution ended, he responded with the political savvy one would expect from a former Deputy Prime Minister. He suggested that to respond to the apology would prejudice ongoing processes, and while emphasising that genuine engagement was his priority, he asserted that the University had existing policies in place and so it “shouldn’t be a surprise” to hear identical statements being repeated. My impression is that he did not believe that last point, and those close to Robertson have suggested that he understands that the canned statement was an inappropriate response.
The immediate reception in the room to my contribution was mixed. There was no vocal opposition, and some applause, accompanied by an expected tension. After the closing of the forum, sympathetic staff suggested that they were frustrated by Robertson’s responses, and several staff have emphasised their relief in hearing the ‘official’ narrative be corrected.
Where we are now
In the following days, Staff for Palestine, the core of University of Otago staff lobbying for action on BDS, have extended their support to these students. On the other side, pro-Palestine organisers have received reports of staff threatening students with expulsion, withdrawal of scholarships, or reprimand for wearing clothes with University logos to “political protests”.
On Saturday 12 October, Dunedin’s monthly public rally took place, marching from the Otago Museum Reserve through to the Octagon. On stage, I emphasised the need for absolute solidarity with OSJP, and challenged the attendees to reach out to Vice Chancellor Grant Robertson and OUSA President Keegan Wells to pressure them to support the students. The primary speaker at this event was Liz, an OSJP organiser, who spoke to the crowd of the University’s pattern of behaviour of weaponising bureaucracy, removing student materials relating to Palestine, and now obscuring their aggressive response to an attempted sit-in – all in response to calls for transparency and opposition to genocide.
So this is where we are now. The management of the University of Otago now hopefully understands that students and staff are organising, not merely for spectacle but for power and action. The University’s attempts to dispel student activity on this question has instead given them a spotlight. OSJP have vowed to take further action as soon as this week, and to keep organising and mobilising until victory.
Social media and public contributions from Dunedin staff, students and more:
Otago Students for Justice in Palestine: https://www.instagram.com/otagosjp/
Otago Staff for Palestine: https://www.instagram.com/otagostaff4pal/
Dunedin Palestine (Ōtepoti’s largest solidarity coalition): https://www.instagram.com/dunedinpalestine/
Dunedin Palestine mailing list: http://eepurl.com/h0Z_LX
Dunedin for Justice in Palestine (Dunedin solidarity Facebook group): https://www.facebook.com/groups/1486295484946795
Dr David Jenkins and Dr Oliver Jutel – The University could, should take an ethical stand: https://www.odt.co.nz/opinion/university-could-should-take-ethical-stand
Photo Credits: Jill Bowie
