Written by Anushka Vineet
Content warning: this article includes references to racism and discrimination.
On Monday, August 11 2025, the ANU BIPOC Department issued a statement regarding the recent removal of the BIPOC mural by ANU for a second time. This follows multiple incidents of vandalism and previous erasure of the mural by the university itself. This time, the ANU stated that the mural violated the university’s Poster Policy.
In April 2025, Observer previously reported on the incident. In March, at the second Student Representative Council Meeting (SRC) of the year, a motion was passed by ANUSA condemning the “alleged censorship of a pro-Palestine chalk mural outside the BIPOC Base”.
In the statement released on social media, it was shared that on July 23 2025, the department held an event “centred around the restoration of the chalk mural outside BIPOC Base”.
Following the event, the mural was removed as it allegedly violated the ANU’s Poster Policy. The policy has elicited widespread outrage amongst students, and ANUSA has condemned the current ANU Poster Policy for the restrictions that it poses on student activism.
The current Poster Policy states that “chalk may only be used on exterior footpaths which are exposed to rainfall. Use of chalk in other areas (e.g. walls, staircases, interior spaces) is prohibited unless explicitly approved by the University Chief Campus Environment Officer”.
As of August 6, 2025, the current Poster Policy is up for review by the university.
It was stated that no communication had occurred between the university and the BIPOC Department. However, a BIPOC statement suggests that some communication had occurred “solely through the ANUSA President [Will Burfoot]”.
The current BIPOC Officer, Aleesya Amirizal, stated her concern at the “university’s continued failure” to communicate directly with her in her “capacity as BIPOC Officer”.
She believes that “exclusionary behaviour [has been] demonstrated by senior leadership regarding the BIPOC base”.
Amirizal states that the latest removal of the mural points to “an ongoing pattern of hostility toward BIPOC political expression, and a disregard for our autonomy over spaces we have fought hard to claim”. She claims that questions have been raised by the BIPOC collective on the safety of the BIPOC base.
Amirizal also questions the application of the Poster Policy, referring to “growing scepticism” around the idea that it is being “selectively enforced in ways that silence marginalised voices”.
Following the events, the BIPOC Department has called for more open communication by ANU and “active engagement with the students whom its decisions affect most”.
They call for more “open and transparent channels of communication with BIPOC students, in good faith and with concern for their safety and wellbeing”.
Amirizal states that she is attempting to organise a meeting with the Deputy Vice-Chancellor regarding the future of the BIPOC Department and their concerns.
Observer reached out to ANU for comment and they failed to respond in time for publication of this article. When received, ANU’s response will be included.
Observer will continue to report on the situation as it develops.
Graphics by James Neal
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