The Vice-Chancellor, Professor Sasha Roseneil, wrote to all students earlier today. You can read the full message below:
Dear Students,
The unfolding conflict in Israel and Gaza is a humanitarian catastrophe that is affecting many students and staff. This is particularly so for those who have deep personal connections to the region. The current situation gives rise to profound emotions and passionately held views, and to very real disagreement amongst us.
The existence of these differing beliefs and positions, and the ways in which they are expressed on campus, produces concerns for some about their own physical and psychological safety, while others want to feel confident that, within the law, they remain free to express their views.
This is why I am sharing a statement of how we can navigate these difficult issues, and I am setting out the following guiding principles for all students and staff as a community:
At the University of Sussex, we are committed to providing an inclusive, respectful, and supportive learning and working environment for every member of our diverse and international community. Within our community, we strive to ensure that diversity of belief and opinion can be expressed and heard safely and legally, and we seek to facilitate dialogue between those with differing views. We are committed to rigorous, rational, evidenced argument and respectful discussion.
We will not tolerate antisemitism, Islamophobia or any form of racism, harassment, or discrimination. Our commitment to academic freedom and freedom of speech within the law is foundational, and essential to our work of education and research.
As events unfold in Israel and Gaza, the University's actions are informed by these commitments. The University does not take a corporate position on complex global events. We recognise that many in our community, both students and staff, have strong views and feelings about the current conflict. We ask that all members of the University community hold in mind our shared humanity, whatever the differences of belief and lived experience there might be amongst us, and that we all consider carefully the impact of our words and actions on fellow members of the Sussex community.
Our institutional values of collaboration, courage, inclusion, integrity, and kindness can serve to guide us through these difficult times.
I hope that this statement reaffirms to all students and staff at Sussex of our continued priority and dedication to everyone’s safety and security as well our commitment to freedom of speech within the law.
In this context I also need to draw your attention to the fact that Hamas is, in UK law, a proscribed terrorist organisation, meaning that expressions of support for Hamas are restricted by relevant legislation. Anyone who expresses support for Hamas could be in breach of UK law and this would be treated with utmost seriousness by the University.
I have, over the past week, received many emails expressing concern and distress about how events in Israel and Gaza are playing out on our own campus so I want to also remind you of our ongoing support for students impacted by the events in Israel and Gaza, and to encourage anyone who has experienced or witnessed any incident of antisemitism, Islamophobia, or any form of racism, harassment or discrimination to report it to us using our Report+Support tool.
I close for now by reiterating my hope that we at Sussex are able to explore new pathways to mutual understanding that enable us to embrace the diversity of background, belief, and identity that characterises our community.
With very best wishes,
Sasha
Professor Sasha Roseneil
Vice-Chancellor and President