Australian National University (ANU) interim vice-chancellor Rebekah Brown has issued a formal apology to Jewish students and staff, acknowledging that the institution failed to provide a safe and respectful environment during recent campus protests. Speaking before the Royal Commission on Antisemitism and Social Cohesion, Brown admitted that the university’s response to a long-running pro-Palestinian encampment on campus was insufficient. She conceded that Jewish members of the university community had faced significant psychosocial risks and that the university’s actions were not as timely or effective as they should have been.
The testimony follows months of tension at Australian universities, where pro-Palestinian encampments were established in response to the conflict in Gaza. At ANU, the encampment occupied a central campus location for several months, leading to reports of intimidation, antisemitic slogans, and the exclusion of Jewish students from campus life. University officials, including acting provost Joan Leach, acknowledged that the encampment created an environment where Jewish students felt unable to participate fully in their studies or campus activities.
During the hearings, the commission also heard accounts of students being asked to provide death certificates to prove relatives had died in Gaza, highlighting broader administrative and cultural challenges within the university. University leaders are now under pressure to overhaul their policies, including adopting clearer definitions of antisemitism and improving student and staff conduct training. While some measures have been introduced to regulate protests, the university admits that significant work remains to rebuild trust and ensure the safety of all community members.
Looking ahead, the university faces the task of balancing its commitment to free speech and protest with its duty of care to protect students from harassment. The Royal Commission’s ongoing hearings are expected to influence future national standards for how educational institutions handle hate speech and campus safety. For the ANU community, the focus remains on whether these apologies will lead to substantive changes in campus culture and policy.