100 days and counting: Uni ‘dragging feet’ over ‘pawns of Israel’ investigation

Bristol University has been accused of dragging its feet with its ongoing investigation into controversial professor David Miller.

Miller sparked condemnation across the Jewish community after calling for an end to Zionism, and accusing the university’s J-Soc of being “pawns of Israel.”

After an online protest by students, the Russell Group university said in March that it was investigating Miller’s comments – but no outcome has been forthcoming more than 100 days on.

The Union of Jewish Students (UJS) said they had concerns about how long the process was taking. 

“The university needs to stop dragging its feet and come to a conclusion,” said a spokesperson. 

“The Office of the Independent Adjudicator (OIA) good practice framework says universities should take 90 days to complete a complaint procedure. Over 100 days later, Jewish students are asking, what’s taking so long?”

Bristol University has consistently refused to comment on the investigation, or how long it might take, citing legal reasons.

Asked about the Miller case, the Education Secretary, Gavin Williamson, told a Parliamentary committee last week that he would “never expect a university to tolerate racists and I would never expect a university to tolerate antisemitism.”

“Where there is racism, whether that is manifested in antisemitic remarks, I’d naturally expect there to be a proper and full employment procedure,” he said. 

He added that he would expect university staff members who say antisemitic things to be fired.