Statement to staff and students 24 April 2024
Dear Colleagues and Students
The ongoing conflict in Gaza and the Middle East continues to cause enormous suffering to those directly affected as well as grief and distress across the University community; we fully understand the strength of feeling among members of staff and students.
In November 2023, the University of Glasgow was one of the first higher education institutions in the UK (and still one of only a few) to call for a humanitarian ceasefire and the immediate release of all hostages. Our position has not changed since we issued that statement.
Our top priority at the University of Glasgow is the safety and wellbeing of students and colleagues. The University’s senior leadership is therefore deeply saddened to note that some members of our community have reported incidents of antisemitism and Islamophobia, whether in person or via social media.
There will never be a place in our diverse community for hate or harassment of any kind. No one at this University should experience any form of racism, sectarianism or xenophobia. Any reports of unacceptable behaviour will be investigated and, where breaches of our student and staff codes of conduct are identified, they will be dealt with accordingly. We are wholly committed to ensuring that our campuses are places where inclusivity, equality and respect are championed and modelled.
We would like to remind staff and students that support is available from a variety of sources:
Support for students:
Support for colleagues:
The University will always uphold the principles of academic freedom and freedom of speech, including the right of all members of the UofG community to express their political views. At the same time, colleagues and students are required to show respect and courtesy to other members of the University community, and to avoid Islamophobic or antisemitic statements or behaviour.
- Students may report concerns via the online reporting tool.
- Colleagues may report concerns via the staff online reporting tool.
In recent years, we have been running our Together Against Racism campaign to help eradicate racism and make the University a more inclusive space. More information on the campaign is available on the UofG web pages, including a Race Literacy Glossary. The glossary encompasses the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition of antisemitism, which the University adopted (excluding contemporary examples) in 2021.
Finally, please be aware that Campus Security is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Members of staff and students are encouraged to download and activate the University’s SafeZone app.
With best wishes,
David Duncan
Chief Operating Officer and University Secretary