RMIT University has decided to terminate a misconduct investigation involving a student who accused the institution of involvement in “genocide” in Gaza due to the connections of its defence and aerospace research center with arms manufacturers.
This week, Guardian Australia reported that student Gemma Seymour was facing possible suspension for a social media video in which she urged the closure of the university’s Sir Lawrence Wackett Defence and Aerospace Centre.
RMIT contended that the video, filmed in a corridor of the center, disclosed its location, which is not publicly available, thereby endangering the safety of the facility, its staff, and students.
However, in an email sent to Seymour on Wednesday, the university’s student conduct team announced that the investigation had been dropped.
“We wish to inform you that, following a review, the Senior Officer’s Student Conduct notice of hearing scheduled for April 22, 2026, is being withdrawn and will not move forward,” the email, as shared with Guardian Australia, stated.
Seymour, a student of fine arts, expressed that the case’s dismissal represents a victory for the right to criticize warfare and the implications of institutional involvement in military supply chains.
“This demonstrates that neither students nor staff will be cowed by the university, and we will persist in opposing RMIT’s militarism,” she asserted.
“The right to free speech and protest must be exercised, especially when our universities are complicit in acts of genocide,” she added.
When inquired about the rationale behind dropping the case, an RMIT spokesperson provided a statement.
“RMIT treats all matters concerning student conduct with seriousness and investigates each case in line with the University’s core values and policies,” the spokesperson noted.
“After reviewing this case, the Student Conduct notice of hearing has been retracted.”
“RMIT endorses the right to free speech, debate, and discussion among students, as long as it is lawful and free from discrimination, in accordance with the University’s student policies,” the spokesperson continued.
In the video, which was shared on the RMIT Students for Palestine Instagram account in August, Seymour is seen outside the Sir Lawrence Wackett Defence and Aerospace Centre located at the Melbourne city campus.
“No more excuses, RMIT. There is blood on your hands, and we will not stop until you sever ties with all weapons companies,” Seymour declared in the video.
The caption accompanying the video stated: “The Sir Lawrence Wackett Defence and Aerospace Centre should be shut down. Our university must not be complicit in genocide.”
According to a student conduct report sent to Seymour and reviewed by Guardian Australia, RMIT indicated that public postings of its research locations on social media posed safety and security risks to staff.
The report suggested that RMIT believed Seymour might have violated its regulations, policies, and procedures through actions that could be categorized as misconduct.
It also highlighted the potential for unwanted attention, harassment, or threats directed at RMIT’s research facilities, staff, and students.
An anonymous complaint from an external individual regarding the video was also mentioned in the report.
The Sir Lawrence Wackett Defence and Aerospace Centre is an interdisciplinary research group focusing on Australia’s defence and aerospace industries, with partnerships including the Australian Defence Forces, the US Department of Defence, and Boeing. Amnesty International has reported that weapons produced by Boeing were utilized in Israeli airstrikes that resulted in civilian casualties in Gaza, including children.
In 2024, a surge of encampments at universities across the nation called for the higher education sector to sever connections with weapons manufacturers and to denounce Israel’s military actions in Gaza.
