It’s time for the University of Sydney to remove Assoc. Prof Jake Lynch after his continual harassment and intimidation of Jewish Students.

On 11 March 2015, a public lecture held at the University of Sydney on the ethics of military tactics by retired British Colonel Richard Kemp was aggressively interrupted.

Protestors wrestled with security guards who had asked them to leave and were then forced to remove them. Protestors stood on chairs, began to push students and shout loudly at those who objected to their behaviour.

Professor Jake Lynch, the Director of the University of Sydney’s Centre for Peace and Conflict Studies (CPACS) was in the audience.

As a faculty member, Professor Lynch should have been defusing the situation in defence of freedom of speech and academic discourse.

Instead, Lynch shouted in the face of students, obstructed campus security, filmed students without their consent and waved money in the faces of Jewish students and guests.

These actions are totally reprehensible and unacceptable behaviour from a senior academic of the University of Sydney.

Intimidating and harassing students, as well as waving money in their faces, is in clear violation of the University of Sydney’s Code of Conduct: Staff and Affiliates, which requires that staff treat students with “respect, impartiality, courtesy and sensitivity”.

Anti-Semitic behaviour, harassment, and intimidation have no place in Australian society and they certainly have no place at the University of Sydney, one of Australia’s most prestigious academic institutions.

Professor Jake Lynch has a history of supporting harassment and discrimination against Jewish students. Recently, he signed a letter protesting against the deregistration of the Monash University branch of the Socialist Alternative group which was deregistered for their refusal to allow Jewish students to attend a public lecture.

This pattern of behaviour from Professor Jake Lynch creates an environment at the University which makes students feel uncomfortable and unsafe.

Academic institutions have a duty to promote the pursuit of knowledge and academic discourse. That the University of Sydney would allow a senior member of its staff to actively sabotage this fundamental process is a great discredit to its name.

It is time the University of Sydney, who is represented by Professor Jake Lynch through his words and actions, puts an end to the intimidation, harassment and offense he has caused and will continue to cause if no action is taken.

Vice-Chancellor Dr Michael Spence, we are calling for the University of Sydney to terminate the employment of Associate Professor Jake Lynch. We believe this is the appropriate recourse for his repeated instances of disgraceful conduct.