Leading universities have raised concerns that non-student “agitators” are infiltrating on-campus protests over Gaza to “stir division”.
As reported by the Telegraph, Vice-chancellors sounded the alarm over the presence of extremist groups at the demonstrations in a meeting with Rishi Sunak. The report continues:
They were summoned to Downing Street by the Prime Minister on Thursday for talks on the spread of pro-Palestinian encampments. The meeting came after the University of Cambridge rejected calls to clear a pro-Gaza camp on the lawn outside King’s College.
The US-style protests, which have seen students occupy the grounds of universities across the country, have been raging for five days. They have sparked concerns about rising anti-semitism and the intimidation of Jewish students, though the organisers insist their aims are peaceful.
At the gathering Mr Sunak warned universities that they must “root out” protesters on their grounds who “incite violence or glorify terrorism”.
Vice-chancellors in turn voiced concerns the demonstrations are being infiltrated by non-students to whip up hatred against Jewish people.
“Concerns were raised around non-student ‘agitators’ infiltrating on-campus protests in order to stir division,” Downing Street said after the talks.
The heads of 17 top universities including Oxford and Cambridge, which have both been gripped by controversial protests, were at the meeting.
Mr Sunak told the vice-chancellors they must take “personal responsibility for protecting Jewish students” and adopt a “zero tolerance” approach to anti-Semitism.
He made the remarks after earlier telling his Cabinet that there had been “an unacceptable rise in anti-Semitism on our university campuses” in recent times.
Mr Sunak also urged vice-chancellors to discipline student protesters who crossed the line and said they should call in the police if necessary.
“He was clear they should take disciplinary action if students are found to have been guilty of anti-Semitism or glorification of terrorism or any form of intimidation or violence,” the Prime Minister’s spokesman said.
Vice-chancellors told Mr Sunak they were ready to use eviction orders to clear out protesters where they were in clear breach of university rules.
The meeting came as Prof Dame Sally Mapstone, the head of Universities UK, said institutions “may need to take action” if the protests interfere with campus life.
She said there should not be an “automatic” presumption that the camps should be cleared and that decisions should be made based on the behaviour of the protesters.
“Where there is clear evidence that encampments are interfering with good university business and with the rights of students and staff to go about their business – to take exams, to do their degree shows, to graduate – then universities may need to take action,” she said.
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