On Tuesday 28 October, an Action 4 Palestine activist disrupted a lecture being given by Vice-Chancellor Duncan Ivison. The individual wearing a mask posed the question to Ivison: "why does the University continue to have ties with Tel Aviv University?" (TAU).
The interruption came amid a week-long vote within the Students' Union, calling for the University to end their partnership with TAU. While this was a vote amongst students, it represents the views of 4,831 voters within the student body and is not binding.
Although not established at the time of the protest, this vote saw 94% in favour of the motion.
Despite the result of the SU vote, activists at Ivison's lecture vocalised their concern about the realistic action that the University would take on the matter.
This occurred between 2-4pm, while Ivison was lecturing as part of a Politics module titled ‘Injustice and Resistance’.
The partnership with TAU was established during Nancy Rothwell’s leadership in 2021, aiming to utilise global collaboration for funding and external opportunities. However, this has faced significant backlash, with ongoing protests from many student groups in the years since.
The response has included a series of high-profile occupations at the University on the matter, including in the Simon Building, Roscoe Building and Samuel Alexander Building.
Since Rothwell’s retirement in 2024, events attended by the Vice-Chancellor have been a target of protest action.
Photo Credit: Ava Hudson
As time went on, more individuals joined the front row of the theatre and declared that they would not be willing to leave until Ivison could state that he would implement the outcome of the vote. This was not met with a definitive answer by the Vice-Chancellor.
The protest was carried out with fliers and chants heard. After a short silence, Ivison stated that the decision on the matter was not solely decided by the SU vote, or by him. He went on to say that the partnership predates his time at the University, and that he must consider differing opinions.
The Vice-Chancellor commented:
"Since I arrived, I have consistently defended the right of students to express their views through lawful and peaceful protest and other means, while also arguing that, as an educational institution, we should also be seeking mutual understanding - especially with those with whom we profoundly disagree. We understand and acknowledge the diverse views and feelings expressed by many of our students, including those about the University’s partnerships – particularly with Tel Aviv University (TAU) and BAE Systems. Our research collaborations, including those with TAU, are academic in nature and exist to advance knowledge. They are carried out within UK law and our ethical and research governance frameworks, and staff participation is entirely voluntary. Academic freedom means researchers must be able to pursue lawful inquiry without political or ideological restriction. Decisions of this kind are taken collectively and with great care. The University’s governing bodies, including Senate, have voted against ending the partnership with TAU We welcome ongoing dialogue on these important issues. We remain committed to freedom of speech and freedom of debate and will take all reasonable steps to ensure that members of our community can express their views safely and lawfully.".
Ivison further responded to this interruption, repeatedly asking the hall of students and activists if he would be able to continue his lecture, and that failing that, he would simply leave.
With the question repeated until around 3 PM, an hour before the lecture was due to finish, Ivison stated that he would not be able to make a comment, resulting in him and many students present to vacate the theatre.
Find more information on the recent Students' Union assembly vote here.
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