RMIT drops misconduct case against student who accused university of being ‘complicit in Gaza genocide’
RMIT University has dropped a misconduct case against a student who accused the institution of being “complicit in genocide” in Gaza, because of its defence and aerospace research centre’s ties to weapons companies.
RMIT University has dropped a misconduct case against a student who accused the institution of being “complicit in genocide” in Gaza, because of its defence and aerospace research centre’s ties to weapons companies.
Guardian Australia this week revealed the student, Gemma Seymour, faced potential suspension over a social media video calling for the university’s Sir Lawrence Wackett Defence and Aerospace Centre to be shut down.
RMIT argued the video, recorded in a corridor of the centre, publicly identified its location which is not published online, thereby risking the safety of its facility, staff and students.
But in an email to Seymour on Wednesday afternoon, RMIT’s student conduct team said the case had been dropped.
“We want to inform you that, upon review, the Senior Officer’s Student Conduct notice of hearing scheduled for 22 April 2026 is to be withdrawn and will not be proceeding,” the email, viewed by Guardian Australia said.
Seymour, a fine arts student, said with the withdrawal of the case was a “win for the right to criticise war and genocide and the role our institutions play in the military supply chain.”
“This proves that students and staff will not be intimidated by the university and we will continue to fight against RMIT’s militarism,” she said.
“Freedom of speech and protest is a right to be used especially at times when our universities are complicit in genocide.”
Asked why the university dropped the case, RMIT provided the following statement.
“RMIT takes all matters relating to student conduct seriously and investigates each case in accordance with the University’s core values and policies,” an RMIT spokesperson said.
“Upon review of this case, the Student Conduct notice of hearing has been withdrawn.”
“RMIT supports the exercise of freedom of speech, debate and discourse among students that is lawful and free from any form of discrimination, and adheres with the University’s student policies.”.
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.
The report said RMIT considered Seymour may have breached its regulations, policies, procedures and rules through behaviour or actions that “constitute misconduct”.
It also pointed to the potential for unwanted attention, harassment or threats against RMIT’s research facilities, staff and students.
RMIT received an anonymous complaint from an external person about the video, the report 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 wave of encampments at universities swept across the country calling for the tertiary education sector to cut its ties with weapons manufacturers and condemn Israel’s war in Gaza.
