Australian Human Rights Commission Respect at Uni Interim Report December 2024 scared walking around campus and do not feel comfortable nor safe at times. 75 My younger brother currently ‘attends’ University. I say ‘attends’ loosely, because in reality, he is afraid to step foot on campus. He is afraid to be confronted or targeted. He is afraid to be proud of his heritage. He is afraid that, because he believes in the Jewish right to self-determination and safety in the Jewish ancestral homeland, we will be ostracised, doxxed, harassed or attacked. 76 Ms Segal AO also submitted: The Jewish students are traumatised and feel isolated and unsafe. They are not participating as they should in university life. They have been told by their university administration to stay home for their own safety. 77 In initial Commission consultations, Jewish students expressed a nuanced view of the balance between safety and protest, acknowledging that: …putting a tent on a university lawn is not antisemitic, advocating for Palestine is not antisemitic. But there are moments that crossed the line where you see demonisation and social exclusion. In Commission consultations, concerns were raised about postering linked to neo-Nazi groups and other extremist actors on campus. The Inquiry reported on a range of actions taken by universities to respond to protests and provide a safe, inclusive environment and noted that some responses were more effective than others. The large majority of submissions to the Inquiry described the responses as inadequate. Similarly, Jewish students told the Commission in initial consultations that responses did not adequately address their concerns. In its initial consultations, the Commission also heard about the experiences of Palestinian students and students of other backgrounds feeling unsafe during the protests and encampments. For instance, the Commission heard of a Palestinian student who was confronted and intimidated on campus. Evidence from TEQSA to the Inquiry notes that the number of complaints has slowed since June 2024, ‘consistent with protest camps closing down. And many universities commencing the mid-year break.’ 78 Regardless, consultations indicate that feelings of safety and support need to be fostered across the university community. 47