Email from Charlie Jeffery 13 May 2025

Update from University on student protests 

Dear staff and students,

I’m writing today to do two things: to share our response to a set of demands issued to the University by a group of students protesting about the conduct of the Israeli government in the war in Gaza; and to make some wider reflections prompted by the issues the students have raised. 

The students have set out four demands which are driven by what they see as immense injustice in Gaza. My colleague Kiran Trehan met with the students on 30 April to hear their demands, and yesterday met with them again to share our response. In those meetings we have stressed that the students have every right to express those views (and I suspect many in the University share in the sense of injustice they see).

But the students’ demands are expressed in a way which brooks no debate. They presume that the views drawn by that group of students from that sense of injustice should have precedence over other views: on the technology choices the University should make; on which employers our students should be allowed to consult at careers fairs; and on how academics should conduct their research. 

These are not demands that are in any obvious way negotiable. That has been my clear response to the students who have raised these demands. The response, including the demands made, is appended at the foot of this email. I hope you will take the time to read it.

I close my response to the students’ demands in two ways: with a reiteration that the views of one group in the University, no matter how strongly held, cannot presume simply to override those of others; and with an appeal to make use of the forum for critical thinking that the University provides. 

A research-intensive university like York is an especially appropriate place in which to engage differing viewpoints, to open up understanding of different opinions and the scope for critical reflection on and between them. We have leading experts on war and conflict on our campus. We have academics who work closely with UK and multilateral defence and security agencies. We have academics who work closely with defence industry companies in the conduct of their research and in opening up career opportunities for their students.

Not all will agree with the work that different academics choose to do, and some may exercise their right to criticise some of that work. 

But the fact that we have this diversity of academic scholarship is an asset. It is often through recognising, considering and understanding differences that new ideas emerge on how to deal with pressing issues in our society. That is certainly a York tradition, and I think we should cherish it.

With best wishes

Charlie
President and Vice-Chancellor

Response to protesters, 12 May 2025 (Restricted access Google document - please access using your University account.)