Councilor Matthew Thompson’s bold plan to turn private university colleges into affordable housing in Sydney

Councilor Matthew Thompson has pushed for university residential colleges to provide affordable housing for thousands of needy students across Sydney.

Speaking to The Daily Telegraph, the community services worker said he will present a plan to Sydney council on Monday to turn private campuses into student housing that is safe and affordable.

The motivation for his plan comes after six male students were expelled and 21 suspended following a serious incident at Sydney University College in October.

During the incident, the student was allegedly bullied and gagged with a sex toy.

Mr Thompson said there was a culture of “misogyny and violence” at private boarding colleges, with students regularly subjected to “sexual assault” and aggressive, dangerous behavior, including ritual hazing.

“For decades, colleges like St Paul’s have been allowed to flourish despite the rapes, gang rapes and even murders that occurred during their time,” he told The Daily Telegraph.

“The Greens have heard the calls of the student activists leading this campaign and we are calling for these private boarding colleges to be abolished.

“In the midst of a housing crisis, dismantling these elitist, dangerous colleges to build truly affordable and safe housing for students is a no-brainer.”

Mr Thompson cited a 2018 report which found residential colleges had a “long history” of aggressive, sexual violence and dangerous behaviour.

If his plan is adopted, the City of Sydney will insist that Chris Minns’ government abolish private residential colleges and replace them with student accommodation that will be owned and operated by the government or by students.

A student group called Sydney University Women’s Collective has also led a long-running campaign to abolish such colleges as they struggle with sexual violence on and off campus.

Following the incident at St Paul’s College, a spokesperson for the University of Sydney said they supported the disciplinary action taken against the perpetrators.

“We are closely monitoring what additional steps the College is taking to address this issue and ensure the safety and well-being of students,” the spokesperson said.

Just one day after the incident, a report on teacher sexual harassment published by Collective Shout found that a total of 80.6 percent of teachers had been sexually harassed at school by students.

Another 66.6% of respondents reported that they had witnessed sexual harassment of a student by another student.

Since its opening 167 years ago, St Paul’s College has hosted many distinguished Australians, including former Prime Minister Gough Whitlam.

The college bills itself as an Anglican institution that promises to “promote the development of young people through education and their formation in Christian virtue and conscience.”

The college was founded in 1856 and after 166 years as an all-male institution, it became coeducational last year.