“Safe rooms” set up for Jewish students at Sydney unis

A high-security “safe room” has been set up for Jewish students at a top Sydney university after some reported feeling at risk due to anti-Semitism on campus, prompting Jewish leaders to say it should “shock us all” when young people “feel they need a sanctuary to escape” from hate. Macquarie University’s vice-chancellor Bruce Dowton confirmed to The Daily Telegraph that the new “safe space” for Jewish students had opened its doors for those feeling unsafe at the uni’s campus at Macquarie Park. Macquarie University vice-chancellor Bruce Dowton before the joint committee hearing into anti-Semitism at Australian unis. Picture: Martin Ollman The new safe room – the location of which the university would not disclose due to safety concerns – has security features and can only be accessed by students using a swipe card. The room was established in response to a spike in anti-Semitic incidents at the university, including posters plastered on campus walls that depicted Jews as thieves and also a long-nosed caricature wearing a Star of David. Pro-Palestine protests at the campus and reports of students handing out anti-Israel posters to new students during orientation week have also sparked concerns from Jewish students. NSW Premier Chris Minns said we needed to protect students from anti-Semitic behaviour. NSW Premier Chris Minns said universities need to be welcoming to all students. Picture: Thomas Lisson “People have come from around the world – from different races and religions – because we are a peaceful, tolerant country that has been free of this kind of racial or religious division and ancient hatreds, and we can’t bend on this principle,” he said. The rise in conflict on campuses comes after protests and sit-ins last year that eventuated in aggressive and heated action. Executive Council of Australian Jewry co-chief executive Alex Ryvchin said “every inch of every campus must be safe for Jewish students”. “Universities have a legal obligation to ensure that Jewish students can study and engage in all aspects of campus life in peace and security,” he said. “It is commonplace for student clubs and associations to be allocated spaces for meetings, but when students feel they need a sanctuary to escape their tormentors, that should shock us all.” ‘It’s become commonplace in Australia. We wake up every morning and see a new Jewish target hit…’Executive Council of Australian Jewry’s Alex Ryvchin on antisemitism in Australia, after an attempt to carry out an arson attack on his home.📺 Freeview 236, Sky 512, Virgin 604 pic.twitter.com/mIzfVqpLBX— GB News (@GBNEWS) February 2, 2025 Alex Ryvchin speaks to Britain's GB News. Source: X It is understood the University of Sydney is also operating a dedicated space for Jewish students. At Macquarie University, the safe room was requested by the NSW branch of the Australasian Union of Jewish Students in response to students feeling unsafe at the campus, leading to some skipping lectures or hiding their religious identities. However, the establishment of the safe room has also raised fears it could isolate Jewish students. Australian Jewish Association chief executive Robert Gregory said “the answer to anti-Semitism at the campus was not for Jewish students to be tucked away in safe spaces”. “Isolating the Jewish students in safe rooms away from the other students may in fact make them sitting ducks and the target of further bullying,” he said. Related stories: QUT anti-semitism review leader announced, responds to parliamentary inquiry | Vice-chancellor pay and “quality of governance” to be scrutinised by Senate inquiry | Universities struggling to find balance between free speech and safe campuses “It is disappointing that in 2025, the situation on Australian university campuses has deteriorated so badly that a university feels the need to establish a safe space to keep Jewish students safe.” Macquarie University declined to comment on concerns about the safe room. A federal inquiry on anti-Semitism at university campuses has heard concerns the establishment of a safe room was an inadequate response. One student asked the inquiry: “Why should Jewish students have to huddle in a room to keep safe?” Mr Dowton told the inquiry that Macquarie University has “stood in absolute solidarity” with society against the rise of anti-Semitism. Campus Review contacted Students for Palestine USYD and Students for Palestine Macquarie who didn't reply before the time of publishing. The chair of the anti-Semitism inquiry, Labor MP Josh Burns, has said he is open to a judicial inquiry if universities do not improve the situation in the next year. However, for the time being, the matter has been referred to the recently established National Student Ombudsman.