Appeal for tolerance following recent incident

On the evening of Friday, 1 November, intruders to the Chemistry Building smashed the window of a display cabinet and stole a bust of former University of Manchester academic, Chaim Weizmann, who later became the first President of Israel. It was one of several incidents committed around the country. 

We have notified the police, who are investigating.  

This was an act of vandalism and makes no contribution whatsoever to a better understanding of the current conflict in the Middle East.   

Over more than a year, we have seen peaceful protests on campus and the exchange of strongly held views. We welcome this as part of our fundamental role as a university – a place dedicated to the discussion of often difficult ideas and beliefs. 

Alongside our deep commitment to academic freedom is our commitment to the values of community, tolerance and respect.  Freedom and inclusion are at the heart of everything we do.  

We regularly host many events which discuss all sides of the current conflict in the Middle East, including a debate last week in Whitworth Hall. Although attempts were made to stop the event, it proceeded in full, and as difficult as the discussion was, different perspectives on the conflict were aired and debated, as they should be.  

We know these issues are of great concern to our University community, particularly those with friends, family or close ties to the region, and we express our sympathy for all those caught up in the escalating conflict, as well as our hope for peace. 

We are speaking regularly to our staff, students, and the local community, to ensure we are listening to their concerns and creating the conditions for mutual understanding, as well as a safe and respectful environment on our campus. The safety and well-being of all our students is paramount. 

None of these discussions are easy. They can cause discomfort and pain to many in our community. However, it is crucial in a free society that they occur, within the law, and always with the aim of seeking mutual understanding, and not vilification or hate.  

Duncan Ivison 

President and Vice-Chancellor 

Further information 

If you are one of our staff and student community who has been affected by these events or the wider conflict, we have extensive support services in place for you. 

Support services 

• The University offers a free and confidential 24hr support service, Health Hero 
• We also offer Counselling and Mental Health Support 
• The Multi-faith Chaplaincy can offer support to any of our colleague or student communities 
• See our Student Support webpage for dedicated support for students 

Staying safe and reporting incidents  

• Safezone: Download our free SafeZone app which allows you to quickly and discreetly call for help and share your GPS location if you feel unsafe 
• Report and Support: All forms of racism, antisemitism, Islamophobia, discrimination, and abuse have no place within our community. If you or someone you know has experienced or witnessed any form of hate, you can report this to the University’s Report and Support Team where trained advisors are ready to provide support 

For more information, please visit The University of Manchester’s Humanitarian and conflict support page. 

Anyone with any information about the incident on 1 November can contact police via 101 or gmp.police.uk, quoting log 4035 of 01/11/24. You can also contact the independent charity Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.