Palestine Solidarity Network

University of Southampton

Note: This page is somewhat out of date! Please contact us if you have a particular issue you need advice on

PSN is currently in the process of understanding the best channels by which our members can seek support at the University, and report instances of dissatisfaction. We have been signposted towards using Report & Support in most cases, and have been advised that the following resources are available:

Report & Support Guidance

PSN is encouraging its members to use the Report and Support function as a way of making your voice heard by the university. You may do this anonymously, if you wish.

You may report any instances of censorship or consequences of your Palestinian advocacy that you have experienced at the University that goes against the Code of Practice to Secure Freedom of Speech Within the Law. This could include concerns around your advocacy affecting your employment, study or VISA status, or for example being told you cannot share fundraisers for organisations such as Medical Aid for Palestinians, to give some examples. 

Poster Removal

The issue of PSN poster removal, destruction, and replacement is being taken very seriously by security. Please report these as “Hate Crimes”. 

When reporting, please use the security reference number RITM0639176

Here is an example of a report:

Palestine Solidarity Network posters (which we have been granted permission by the University to put up on campuses) are being taken down and destroyed on a regular basis. The content of the PSN posters is simply sharing that there is an existing PS Network for both Staff and Students. They emphasise that PSN is a supportive community in which we can come together at a very difficult time. Some posters are signposting to events such as the weekly vigils, which are peaceful and supportive events. We have found that they are sometimes being replaced with zionist propaganda or messages that do not truthfully represent what is happening in Gaza.

Regarding the two posters we have examples of, “1.jpeg” suggests that the Palestinians’ right to their homeland is social media disinformation, which could not be more wrong. It takes a short look through history to understand the ethnic cleansing and genocide of the Palestinian people that has occurred in order to make way for the Israeli state.

“2.jpeg” suggests firstly that there is some valid excuse to perform a genocide. And secondly it uses the recovery of hostages to excuse genocide. I’m sure they weren’t talking about the tens of thousands of Palestinian hostages and falsely imprisoned Palestinians, some of whom are just young children.

PSN exists in order to speak the truth about what is happening in Palestine. Our information will always come with valid and reputable sources. Our vigils are peaceful spaces for us to discuss the truth and to dispel propaganda.

I would like to emphasise that we have permission (from, e.g., Pascal Matthias) to exist on campus and to display our posters on campus. Our vigils are listed events in the SUSU and SUSSED calendars, they are a safe space for the University community to come together, to provide support for mental health, hope, and discussion during a very difficult time.

We request that you and the Security team do what you can to prevent our posters from being taken down and catch who may be doing this. The removal, destruction, and replacement of our posters is a hate crime. It is making our community feel unsafe and threatened, so we expect this issue to be taken seriously. Thank you

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Statements made by the VC and Parkes Institute

Report these statements under “Discrimination” or “Other”

Parkes Institute statement

The VC’s statement

The VC’s end of year email was sent to everyone from emailvc@soton.ac.uk with subject “Thank you for another successful year”

Reasons for reporting/examples:

  • The University’s and the Parkes Institute’s apparent neutrality and silence in relation to what has been happening in Palestine is in itself a position, particularly in contrast to its response to the invasion of Ukraine. 
  • I am saddened and offended by the extremely outdated and unbalanced statement from the Parkes Institute and the fact that it has not been updated since October. In addition the VC’s statement has not been updated since November. The silence on the matter sends a strong message and has set the institution firmly in line with the ‘Palestine exception’ to free speech.
  • The language used is inflammatory and biased – you just need to look at the contrast between “condemns the appalling, criminal murders and abductions” and “saddened by the loss of life and widespread suffering in Gaza”. A lot has happened since this statement, including the destruction of all Gaza universities and educational infrastructure, the killing of hundreds of academics and the concomitant destruction of the historical record. Surely academic institutions should condemn or at least acknowledge this. However the presence of this statement seems to indicate very little has been going on in Gaza or indeed the West Bank and diminishes and dehumanises its significance. We should be seeking to engage in sensitive, informed dialogue and empathy in our statements, acknowledging how it is affecting our community. This statement is a far cry from this and therefore I would argue is to the detriment of Jewish/ non-Jewish Relations.
  • Lastly I would argue that it is ingenuine to hope for a “return” to “conditions under which dialogue and meaningful peace” as such conditions have not existed for over 76 years.

Please feel free to use the language above if/when you report this statement and do list any other reasons why you are offended by it in the comments.

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