Students, staff angry with University of Otago over its ‘institutional neutrality’
Thursday, 17 October 2024
Students and staff at the University of Otago are calling on the institution to take a stance on the Israel-Palestine conflict.
It comes after a pro-Palestine campus protest last week saw a person arrested, which Vice Chancellor Grant Robertson said ‘crossed the line’.
Robertson told Stuff he sees the university’s role as providing a ‘safe and stimulating’ place of learning and dialogue for students of all backgrounds.
A stance of neutrality at one of the country’s major universities is being criticised by some of its staff and students.
Last week, a building at the University of Otago was temporarily put into lockdown and one person arrested following a pro-Palestine protest on campus.
Since then, student magazine Critic and an opinion piece in the Otago Daily Times by two lecturers, have raised concerns about the school’s “institutional neutrality”.
But the university says its stance is “not indifference”. We explain what the conversation is about.
What happened at the protest?
The Otago Students for Justice in Palestine (OSJP) held a campus protest on October 9, where they said close to 200 protesters marched and chanted.
Following speeches, an organiser gave instruction for students to enter the clocktower and begin a sit-in, but the energy “changed quickly” when students were “met with violence”, the group claimed.
An organiser earlier told Stuff a campus watch member was trying to stop a student protester entering the clocktower when they both fell through a glass door.
At the time of events, Robertson said peaceful protest had been a “long tradition” at the university, and said students and staff needed to be able to express their views.
“However, there is no place for vandalism or disorderly actions, particularly when the safety of others including staff and students is put at risk.”
“This protest crossed that line. This is against the kaupapa of our community and is not welcome.”
What is institutional neutrality?
Institutional neutrality is the idea that colleges and universities should not, as institutions, take positions on social and political issues.
According to the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression, that is unless those issues “threaten the very mission of the university and its values of free enquiry”.
The concept comes from a late 1960s report by the University of Chicago, known as the Kalven Report.
University of Otago Vice-Chancellor Grant Robertson said institutional neutrality on political issues that “don’t directly impact the University’s operations” is a long-standing stance for Otago, “as it is for other universities”.
The University of Otago doesn’t currently have a formal policy document on institutional neutrality, but the topic was canvassed in its recent statement on free speech.
Why is the university set on neutrality?
A recent report by Emeritus Professor James Maclaurin, who led the working group which developed the university’s Statement of Free Speech, outlined why institutional neutrality is important in the context of the role of a university.
An extract noted an “increasing pressure” on universities to take a stance on political issues.
“This often places the university in an invidious position, but potentially it also has a chilling effect on speech in the university community,” Maclaurin said.
“If the university takes a position on a political issue, then staff and students who disagree with that position may feel that they are being disloyal or even that they could be penalised in some way if they disagree with the university’s view.”
The neutrality debate
A recent opinion piece by two Otago University staff challenged that the university could, and should take an ethical stand on the matter.
The piece, written by Dr David Jenkins and Dr Olivier Jutel on behalf of Otago Staff for Palestine, argued that joining the “growing” boycott, divestment and sanctions movement against Israel “does not violate institutional neutrality, and is in keeping with free speech ideals”.
Jenkins and Jutel wrote that institutional neutrality had “not stood in the way of the university taking noteworthy and commendable political positions on a number of pressing issues” in the past.
In early 2022, the Centre for Peace and Conflict at the University made a statement regarding the Russia and Ukraine conflict, condemning the invasion of Ukraine.
Jenkins also cited the university’s decision not to invest in fossil fuels, and the decision to become a Te Tiriti-led institution as examples of political stances it has taken.
“They have made significant commitments to those causes, and [I] believe they were right to,” Jenkins told Stuff.
He argued if the university is going to apply institutional neutrality, “at least [it] should do so consistently”.
Jenkins said the Kalven report itself makes the claim that, in certain circumstances, the university as a corporation has a “duty” to take a stand, at which point institutional neutrality is “defeasible”.
“Our argument, because a genocide is occurring, that has to count [as] one of those exceptions.”
What Otago Uni says
Robertson said when it comes to international conflicts, such as the situation in Gaza, the university is mindful of the “diverse backgrounds and perspectives” of its more than 25,000 staff and students.
“Our stance is not indifference,” Robertson said.
“We see our role as providing a safe and stimulating place of learning and dialogue for students from all walks of life, including those directly affected by such conflicts.”
Robertson said the university taking a position on an international geopolitical issue is different to refusing to invest in fossil fuels, because the university - as part of its operation - is committed to carbon zero emissions, in line with government targets and legal obligations.
Similarly, he said the university’s stance to be a Te Tiriti-led organisation is as it has specific obligations under the Education and Training Act.
Robertson also pointed to recently expressing concern about the Government’s plans to “change direction” with building the new Dunedin Hospital, as it has “potential direct implications” on how it operates, and is able to train health students.
What the VC makes of the criticism
Last week, Robertson advised staff he was forming a working group on the issue of institutional neutrality to provide advice to the University Council, who make policy.
Robertson said this was something he had decided prior to the editorial by university staff.
The working group - comprised of staff and students - would focus on the foundations for the policy, what the boundaries are, whether it’s appropriate in all circumstances, and if not, under what circumstances.
Robertson said he “completely” understands the strength of feeling “that exists on the catastrophe that has unfolded in Gaza”.
“I have received feedback from people in the university community who hold very different views on the issue, and also on the broader policy of institutional neutrality.
“However, it is my view that it is not well understood across the university. That is one of the reasons that I have put together the working group.”
* CORRECTION: This story originally stated that the University had made a statement regarding the Russia and Ukraine conflict, when in fact it was the Centre for Peace and Conflict, a centre with the University of Otago.
(Amended: October 18, 2024 10.15am).