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campusreview.com.au
J
ANU gig for Bishop
Former foreign minister announced
as the next ANU chancellor.
Campus chaos
UQ pro-Hong Kong protest
turns ugly.
T
ensions over China’s controversial
Hong Kong extradition law boiled
over at one of Australia’s top
universities, with pro-Hong Kong and
pro-Chinese students clashing on the
university’s market day.
Nilsson Jones, editor of the university’s
student magazine Semper Floreat, said an
2
ulie Bishop will become the first female chancellor of the
Australian National University. The former foreign minister will
take over from Gareth Evans – also an ex-parliamentarian – who
has been chancellor since 2010.
Bishop has taken on a number of positions, advisory and
otherwise, since leaving parliament following her unsuccessful bid
for the Liberal leadership earlier this year.
In a letter to staff and students, pro-chancellor Naomi Flutter said
Bishop has maintained a deep interest in education for most of her
professional life.
“The New Colombo Plan is one of her signature initiatives, aimed
at lifting knowledge of the Indo-Pacific in Australia by supporting
Australian undergraduates to study and undertake internships in
the region.”
In Bishop, Flutter said, ANU has a compelling and effective
advocate, including with the Australian government.
Bishop took to Twitter to say she was “delighted” to take on the role
and looks forward to working closely with the university community.
Flutter said forums about the chancellorship held with the ANU
community highlighted the need for an “eminent, distinguished
individual, befitting our university’s stature”.
“It was clear you wanted someone who understands our
distinctive role as the national university – contributing to matters of
great national and international significance – and someone who
appreciates the transformative power of universities, through their
teaching and research.
“In Julie, we have such a person.”
Bishop’s three-year term will begin on 1 January next year. ■
estimated 150 pro-Hong Kong protesters
were opposed by roughly 200 pro-Beijing
students, with the latter ripping up signs
showing support for Hong Kong and
criticising China’s treatment of its Uyghur
population.
“There were signs saying ‘One million
Muslims detained’, ‘Free Hong Kong’ and
things like that. Tensions escalated when
Chinese students arrived – there were
students holding speakers and blasting
the Chinese national anthem,” Jones told
Guardian Australia.
Jones took footage of the clashes,
which reportedly started when a mainland
supporter took a megaphone off a
protester and threw it. The footage has
since been shared on social media and
triggered intense debate between pro-
Hong Kong and pro-China supporters.
The University of Queensland released
a statement shortly after the incident
stating that the safety of students was its
paramount concern. It did not, however,
explicitly condemn the violence.
“One of the roles of universities is to
enable open, respectful and lawful free
speech, including debate about ideas we
may not all support or agree with,” it said.
“The university expects staff and students
to express their views in a lawful and
respectful manner, and in accordance with
the policies and values of the university.
“Earlier today, in response to safety
concerns resulting from a student-initiated
protest on campus, the university requested
police support.
“On the advice of police, protestors were
requested to move on.
“The safety of all students is paramount
to the university. Any student requiring
support should contact Student Services
on 1300 851 998 or visit www.uq.edu.au/
student-services.”
Many students have called for an
investigation into the incident, concerned
by what they see as a violation of “the
Australian spirit … to respect freedom
of speech”.
The clashes at UQ follow weeks of
unrest in Hong Kong. Hundreds of
thousands of citizens have taken to the
streets to protest a law that would allow
Beijing to extradite Hong Kong residents
to the mainland to stand trial. Pro-Hong
Kong supporters see the law as a further
incursion into their freedom of speech
and political opinion. ■