Krænkende adfærd på SDU
Kære SDU Over den sidste måneds tid er studerende af anden etnisk herkomst blevet forskelsbehandlet, diskrimineret imod og grusomt begrænset på ytringsfrihedens front – af både medstuderende og selve rektoratet/ledelsen. Dette finder desværre sted på et universitet, som ellers bryster sig af sin mangfoldighed, tolerance og friheden til debat og ytring – et universitet, hvor studerende af alle farver, baggrunde og religiøse/politiske overbevisninger indtil nyligt har kunnet begå sig på tryg vis, uden frygt for at blive sanktioneret på diskriminerende og løgnagtig basis. Desværre er dette ikke tilfældet længere.
Dog har rektoratet med sin uheldige og diskriminerende beslutning for en uge siden sat en præcedens for fordomsfulde studerende med vis politisk indflydelse, heriblandt Laura Guldager (fremover LGT) fra artiklen (https://www.tv2fyn.dk/odense/haandgemaeng-over-israel-stoette-paa-universitet-skubbede-du-mig-lige), at de blot skal trampe lidt i jorden, presse rektoratet med hjælp fra mediernes og politikers magt (Mai Mercado, Morten Messerschmidt o.fl.), og rent ud lyve – og han vil bukke sig for deres vilje og agenda. Dette har nu bevirket, at flere studerende af anden etnisk baggrund nu må begå sig med usikkerhed på universitets gange, bange at ytre sig. Episoden d. 12. oktober belyser for os, at studerende med maliciøse hensigter og fordomme blot kan kontakte medier eller sågar ty til vold, og rektoratet vil vende det blinde øje hertil.
For at belyse hvordan studerendes ytringsfrihed fortsat begrænses, linker jeg til denne artikel: https://www.tv2fyn.dk/odense/studerende-kalder-holocaust-plakater-paa-sdu-over-alle-graenser. Her bliver studerende klandret og forsøgt begrænset af LGT for at udtrykke politiske holdninger, som hun finder sig uenig med. SDU har afvist at begrænse ytringsfriheden på denne front – dette er vi glade for. Dog er det bemærkelsesværdigt, at benævnte plakater i artiklen siden da er blevet taget ned – dette uden at blive fordømt af rektoratet. Herudover blev særdeles fredelige studerende nyligt klandret på det sociale medie X for at være "intimiderende": https://twitter.com/jacob_feldborg/status/1727287719347564886. Chikane på sociale medier er stadig chikane, og injurier er stadig injurier. Vil ledelsen gøre mere for at beskytte deres studerende?
I en artikel fra Berlingske d. 13. november fastslår rektor, at han ser med ”meget stor alvor” på truende eller chikanerende adfærd overfor medstuderende – men i praksis er dette ej tilfældet - rektoren ser kun med alvor på chikanerende adfærd, når det er begået fra den ene side. Studerende af anden etnisk baggrund kan frit blive fysisk chikaneret uden rette sanktion. Rektoren fastslår desuden, at han tager skarp afstand til antisemitisme og antisemitiske symboler – dette skaber et fejlagtigt billede af, at studerende af anden etnisk baggrund har hængt antisemitiske symboler og/eller ytret antisemitiske ord, igen uden at underbygge sin påstand med konkret bevis herfor. Dette er en tragedie, og igen en fordomsfuld påstand om studerende af anden etnisk herkomst, som sætter disse studerende i dårligt lys. For Berlingskes læsere har dette skabt et helt forvrænget billede af etniske studerende på SDU. Derudover værd at bemærke, at rektoren ikke samtidigt tager afstand til islamofobi. Sidst har rektoren inviteret to studerende, DFK og JES, til en samtale om deres oplevelser med krænkende og chikanerende adfærd på campus – men har ’forglemt’ at invitere studerende af anden etnisk herkomst for at tale om deres oplevelser. Rektoren giver – igen og igen – kun den ene side en platform, men censurerer den anden.
Vi var en del til stede d. 12. oktober, hvor vi så hele den uheldige episode udfolde sig. Der var flest kvindelige studerende til stede, som kan attestere til det følgende – at hvis den mandlige studerende rent faktisk havde ageret aggressiv eller truende overfor en anden kvinde, så ville absolut ingen blandt os stå og være passive – uanset politiske eller religiøse holdninger. Faktum er dog, som rektoratet ligeledes er klare over via adskillige vidneudsagn, at dette ikke var tilfældet – den mandlige studerendes opførsel kan som maksimum beskrives som værende provokerende. Det er aldrig i orden at tage foreningers opslag ned – dette er vi alle enige i. Dog ville jeg håbe, at rektoratet ville give os ret i, at det må og skal aldrig være løsningen at eskalere en situation ved at fysisk krænke. Ved at ignorere adskillige vidneudsagn, har rektoratet signaleret til os, at 1-2 studerendes påstande vejer mere end 5-6 vidneudsagn fra studerende med udenlansk-klingende navne. I denne forbindelse vil vi gerne anmelde LGT for at fysisk krænke en medstuderende. Det er yderst nødvendigt at holde studerende, der må ty til fysisk vold for at få egen vilje igennem, ansvarlige. Det er yderst nødvendigt, at alle studerende – uanset farve, religion og politiske holdninger – må kunne begå sig på et universitet uden at blive fysisk krænket af andre. Det er yderst nødvendigt, at rektoratet er entydig i, hvordan de behandler studerende – at sanktionere én for at begrænse en andens ytringsfrihed men at vende det blinde øje til en studerende, som fysisk krænker én anden, er ikke andet end diskriminerende forskelsbehandling og favoritisme. Enten sanktionerer man begge eller ingen.
ENGLISH:
Dear SDU,
Over the past month, students of diverse ethnic backgrounds have been subjected to discrimination, unfair treatment, and cruel restrictions on the front of freedom of expression—both from fellow students and the university administration itself. Regrettably, this is happening at a university that otherwise prides itself on diversity, tolerance, and the freedom to engage in debate and expression—a university where students of all colors, backgrounds, and religious/political beliefs have been able to navigate safely until recently, without fear of discriminatory and false sanctions. Unfortunately, this is no longer the case.
However, the unfortunate and discriminatory decision made by the administration a week ago has set a precedent for biased students with certain political influence, including Laura Guldager (henceforth LGT) from the article (https://www.tv2fyn.dk/odense/haandgemaeng-over-israel-stoette-paa-universitet-skubbede-du-mig-lige), suggesting that they merely need to assert themselves, apply pressure with the help of the media and politicians (Mai Mercado, Morten Messerschmidt and more), and outright lie—and the administration will yield to their will and agenda. This has now resulted in several students of diverse ethnic backgrounds navigating with uncertainty on the university grounds, afraid to express themselves. The incident on October 12th highlights for us that students with malicious intentions and prejudices can simply contact the media or even resort to violence, and the administration will turn a blind eye to this.
To illustrate how students' freedom of expression continues to be restricted, I am providing a link to this article: https://www.tv2fyn.dk/odense/studerende-kalder-holocaust-plakater-paa-sdu-over-alle-graenser. Here, students are criticized and attempts are made to limit their political expressions by LGT, who disagrees with their views. SDU has refused to limit freedom of expression on this front, and we appreciate that. However, it is noteworthy that the mentioned posters in the article have since been taken down—without condemnation from the administration. Furthermore, exceptionally peaceful students were recently criticized on the social media platform X for being "intimidating": https://twitter.com/jacob_feldborg/status/1727287719347564886. Harassment on social media is still harassment, and defamation is still defamation. Will the administration do more to protect its students?
In an article from Berlingske on November 13th, the rector states that he views threatening or harassing behavior towards fellow students with "very great seriousness." However, in practice, this is not the case—the rector only takes harassment seriously when it is committed from one side. Students of diverse ethnic backgrounds can be physically harassed without proper sanctions. The rector also declares that he strongly opposes anti-Semitism and anti-Semitic symbols, creating a false impression that students of diverse ethnic backgrounds have displayed anti-Semitic symbols or uttered anti-Semitic words, again without substantiating his claim with concrete evidence. This is a tragedy and, once again, a prejudiced assertion about students of diverse ethnic backgrounds. For Berlingske's readers, this has created a completely distorted image of ethnic students at SDU. Additionally, it is worth noting that the rector does not simultaneously distance himself from Islamophobia. Finally, the rector has invited two students, DFK and JES, for a conversation about their experiences with offensive and harassing behavior on campus—but has 'forgotten' to invite students of diverse ethnic backgrounds. The rector, time and again, provides a platform only to one side and censors the other.
We were present on October 12th, where we witnessed the entire unfortunate episode unfold. Most of the students present were female and can attest to the following—that if the male student had actually acted aggressively or threateningly towards another woman, none of us would have stood passively—regardless of political beliefs. However, as the administration is well aware from numerous witness statements, this was not the case—the male student's behavior can at most be described as provocative. It is never acceptable to remove posters from associations — this we all agree on. However, I would hope that the administration would agree with us that it should never be the solution to escalate a situation by physically violating someone. By ignoring several witness statements, the administration has signaled to us that the claims of 1-2 students weigh more than 5-6 witness statements from students with foreign-sounding names. In this context, we would like to report LGT for physically violating a fellow student. It is crucial to hold students accountable who resort to physical violence to impose their will. It is essential that all students—regardless of color, religion, and political beliefs—can navigate a university without being physically violated by others. It is crucial that the administration is consistent in how they treat students—sanctioning one for restricting another's freedom of expression while turning a blind eye to a student who physically violates another is nothing but discriminatory treatment and favoritism. Either sanction both or none.
Sally Adham Kontakt forfatteren af dette andragende