www.silverguide.site –

An RMIT University student faces potential suspension over a video accusing the institution of being “complicit in genocide” in Gaza, because of its defence and aerospace research centre’s ties to weapons companies.

RMIT has argued the video, recorded in a corridor of the centre, publicly identifies its location which is not published online, thereby risking the safety of its facility, staff and students.

The student, Gemma Seymour, is due to face a student conduct hearing on 22 April regarding the allegations of misconduct.

In the video, posted on the RMIT Students for Palestine’s Instagram profile in August, Seymour stands outside RMIT’s Sir Lawrence Wackett Defence and Aero Centre at its Melbourne city campus.

“No more excuses RMIT. There is blood on your hands and we will not rest until you cut ties with all weapons companies,” Seymour said in the video.

The caption of the video reads: “The Sir Lawrence Wackett Defence and Aerospace centre should be shut down. Our university should not be complicit in genocide.”

In a student conduct report sent to Seymour and viewed by Guardian Australia, RMIT said there was a risk to the safety and security of staff if its research locations were posted publicly on social media.

It also pointed to the potential for unwanted attention, harassment or threats against RMIT’s research facilities, staff and students.

“While the Student’s right to engage in world affairs is not in question, the University holds significant concern regarding the way in which the Student has done so, as we believe this may compromise safety, security, and teaching and learning activities,” the report said.

The social media post could also compromise the integrity and security of “sensitive research areas”, heighten risk stress and anxiety among students and increase the likelihood of unauthorised access, the report said.

A still cover image on the video, that has since been deleted, showed Seymour’s middle finger gesturing to the centre’s signage. RMIT said the middle finger was a “universal symbol indicating disrespect” and it was reasonable for a person viewing the post to find it to be an “offensive” gesture.

RMIT received an anonymous report from an external person about the video, according to the report.

The report said RMIT considered Seymour may have breached its regulations, policies, procedures and rules through behaviour or actions that “constitute misconduct”.

Seymour, who is studying fine arts, said that RMIT said the location of the centre was signposted in the university, which is a public institution.

“The last I checked you didn’t need to check if a sign was actually a secret sign before you pointed someone in a direction somewhere,” she said.

She accused RMIT of trying to suppress discussion about the institution’s research and ties to weapons manufacturers.

“I think it’s a problem that RMIT would take more issue with a student standing under a sign, talking about the weapons companies it partners with, rather than the fact that the weapons companies it partners with are essential in facilitating war and genocide,” she said.

“If the suspension gets through … it would have a chilling effect on the capacity for staff and students to criticise the university and engage in political activism, which is, … a basic part of freedom of speech,” she said.

The Sir Lawrence Wackett Defence and Aero Centre is an interdisciplinary research group that focuses on Australia’s defence and aerospace sectors.

It lists the Australian Defence Forces, the US Department of Defence and Boeing as its partners and collaborators. Amnesty International has found weapons made by Boeing were used in Israeli airstrikes that killed civilians in Gaza, including children.

In 2024, a waves of pro-Palestine student encampments swept through universities across Australia, calling for the institutions to cut ties with weapons manufacturers and condemn Israel’s war in Gaza, which an independent commission of inquiry set up by the United Nations last year labelled a genocide.

Hamas’ attacks on 7 October 2023, in which militants killed about 1,200 people and took 251 hostages, prompted Israel’s military invasion of Gaza, in which more than 75,000 Palestinians are estimated to have been killed.

A spokesperson for RMIT said it could not comment on the matter.

The spokesperson said all students were subject to behavioural expectations and conduct requirements.

“Our policies provide the basis for addressing actions or behaviour that adversely impact other members of our community,” they said.

“Behaviours that breach our policies will not be tolerated and may result in disciplinary action being taken.”

Penalties for findings of misconduct can include suspending enrolment for up to one semester, according to RMIT’s student conduct regulations.