King’s College London’s University and College Union (UCU) branch has become the first in the UK to pursue a strike ballot over its institution’s stance on Palestine, but critics say it risks “going beyond its mandate” by getting involved in student misconduct cases.

The branch has announced it is  over the “university’s failures to protect staff who have been subject to harassment and threats for their solidarity with Palestine”.

It has also called for a commitment to academic freedom and for the institution to divest from companies that support Israel’s war effort.

In a statement last week, UCU at King’s also linked its formal dispute with management to students who are facing disciplinary action over Gaza protests.

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The case of Usama Ghanem, an Egyptian student suspended after taking part in several campus protests, was highlighted by the union, claiming he was “being subject to non-academic misconduct proceedings under a new protest policy formulated by senior management, without consultation with UCU”.

Ghanem’s suspension relates to a King’s College event in February when an Iranian researcher Faezeh Alavi was , causing the event’s cancellation. He has also taken part in numerous other campus protests.

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Ghanem, who has gained high-profile support from former  and environmental campaigner Greta Thunberg among others, has claimed he has been “singled out” by the university and his suspension risks the revocation of his visa which would potentially mean his deportation to a “authoritarian regime” in Egypt.

But drawing attention to the “aggressive behaviour and chanting…including calls for the destruction of the Jewish state” at the February event, a spokesperson for the Campaign Against Antisemitism said it felt compelled to , urging the university to “investigate and take appropriate action against those responsible, in line with its duty of care to all students”.

King’s College UCU branch said its ballot was about ensuring that “management’s approach to freedom of expression protects the most marginalised members member of our community”.

However, Rosa Freedman, professor of law, conflict and global development at the University of Reading, said she was worried by the union’s decision to involve members in the case of an individual student.

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“UCU is a union for staff and there is a separate union for students. To start taking positions on individual students and whether their behaviour constitutes a disciplinary breach or not goes well beyond the staff union’s mandate,” argued Freedman, whose research has often highlighted antisemitism on UK campuses.

“Students have a code of conduct that they are required to follow – the UCU should not be interfering in individual cases. It would not involve itself with other disciplinary issues faced by students like allegations of academic integrity breaches,” she continued, adding it would set a “terrible precedent.”

The defence by King’s UCU branch of a protest that shut down a talk by an academic, and left her feeling intimidated, also showed “wilful disregard” for academic freedom and the rights of scholars to speak freely, added Freedman.

“It sends a very strong message that the UCU does not understand the new Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Act that does not protect people shouting down speakers – that kind of behaviour is not acceptable in UK universities,” said Freedman.

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51�Թ� contacted Ghanem and King’s UCU branch for comment.

A King’s College London spokesperson said it was “not able to comment on individual cases and issues which are the subject of legal proceedings however, as we have made clear, students are not subject to disciplinary action on the basis of lawful protest or affiliation, and it is untrue to suggest otherwise”.

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They said the university “was proud of a long history of supporting free expression and civic engagement” but the “safety of our students and staff must be, and is always, our highest priority”.

jack.grove@timeshighereducation.com