Rector Ghassan Abu-Sittah was speaking at the Freshers Welcome Address in front of hundreds of students and university officials, including Vice Chancellor Andy Schofield.
The speech was a call for a “joint struggle” of students, in the context of the University of Glasgow’s recent announcement that it would join the UK Ministry of Defence’s ‘Defence Universities Alliance’.
The Glasgow University Conservative and Unionist Society (GUCUA) described Dr Abu-Sittah’s comments to Hillhead Review as “childish” and “disappointing but unfortunately predictable”, saying that it is “regrettable that the rector isn’t as outspoken in his opposition to the use of weapons when particular terrorist groups are being discussed.”
“Ethical decision making on how the university allocates funds is entirely appropriate and we support it. However a blanket ban on working with the defence sector for ideological reasons is both infantile and contrary to the principle of defending freedom and justice.”
The Student Left Society told Hillhead Review that it was “a privilege to hear our Rector, Dr Ghassan Abu-Sittah”, and that “we live in a time where there are multiple converging crises that we as young adults have to face up to – Ghassan’s speech thoughtfully reflected on this in a way that will hopefully encourage our new students to believe that they have the power to fight for a better world. We are more than proud to have Ghassan as our Rector.”
“The Tory society wants to insinuate that our Rector supports terrorism or attacks on civilians.
“What do they have to say about the thousands of civilians killed in Palestine? Or Iran? Nothing. The Tories would have dragged us into a wider war with Trump in West Asia if they could get the chance.
“Who remembers how Tory society had to expel their committee member when everybody found out they were an open racist and had called Pakistani people ‘the worst species’?
“It’s ironic that they think they can lecture others on anything. The Tory society should retract this vile insinuation against our Rector.”
In his speech, Dr Ghassan referred to this current population of students as living “in an age of paradox”, where, while “40% of the world’s population live in hunger, it would take only 0.3% from the most wealthy to end poverty.”
“We are witnessing yet another regional war, taking lives because of the world’s obsession and the empire’s greed to capture fossil fuels. … Despite the fact that we are at universities that produce knowledge, if you are a researcher it is easier to get funding for projects that produce weapons of war.
“Your generation is growing up amongst the slaughtering in Gaza. Your generation will have to rise up and change the world. This is the world in which you will have to raise your children.
“It is ideas that make a university. It is joint struggle that will destroy the politics of identity and take on a cannibalistic capitalist system that profits from killing and destruction.”
Dr Abu-Sittah has not yet responded to a request for comment.