The newly established Adelaide University is actively reviewing whether to strip the name of gas company Santos from one of its campus buildings, following intense criticism from students and environmental activists who condemn the promotion of fossil fuel interests on academic grounds.
Student Protests Spark Review Process
On a recent Saturday, students and conservationists gathered outside the Santos Petroleum Engineering building, demanding the university sever ties with the company due to its controversial new gas projects. The demonstration highlighted growing pressure on educational institutions to align their partnerships with environmental sustainability goals.
University Leadership Responds to Climate Concerns
Professor Nicola Phillips, who assumed the role of vice-chancellor in January after the merger of the University of South Australia and the University of Adelaide, confirmed that discussions about removing the Santos name were already underway. "That process of consideration was already under way," Phillips stated, emphasizing that the sponsorship deal had expired some time ago.
"As Adelaide University, we should be looking at whether the naming is still reflective of our current reality," she added, noting that the university maintains a positive ongoing relationship with Santos and has communicated about the situation. The original 1999 agreement involved a $25 million sponsorship to establish the School of Petroleum Engineering, which has since been absorbed into the engineering department.
Climate Advocacy and Community Backlash
Phillips acknowledged hearing from staff members who "quite rightly care very deeply about climate" and are invested in the new university's stance on sustainability. Student campaigner Darcey McNamara, representing the Conservation Council South Australia, labeled the promotion of Santos as "shameful," arguing that the company's gas expansion plans harm First Nations communities and exacerbate climate change.
Public opinion appears to support such criticisms, with a recent DemosAU poll revealing that 36% of South Australians strongly agree gas companies like Santos should pay for environmental damage, while 38% somewhat agree. This sentiment is part of a broader movement, including calls for the state government to drop Santos' sponsorship of the Tour Down Under cycling event.
Legal and Cultural Context
In February, Santos successfully defended itself in a landmark greenwashing case, facing allegations of misleading claims about its net zero plans. Meanwhile, a separate cultural controversy emerged when former One Nation candidate Cory Bernardi mocked Kaurna language signs at the university, including "Niina Marni" (a common greeting meaning "hello, how are you?") and a Women's and Children's hospital sign.
Kaurna elder Lynette Crocker criticized Bernardi's comments as "the lowest form of communication," while Phillips firmly distanced the university from his views. "I hope that it's very obvious to anybody who's following the evolution of our university... that that is not a view that we share," she said, highlighting the university's commitment to First Nations communities.
Commitment to First Nations Representation
Phillips pointed to the university's adoption of a Kaurna-gifted name (Tirkangkaku) and the appointment of Adnyamathanha/Narungga man and football legend Adam Goodes as a First Nations ambassador as evidence of its dedication. "I did want [the appointment of Goodes] to be a really powerful statement about who we are as a university and what we stand for," she explained, framing it as a core responsibility for the new institution.
The dual controversies—over the Santos building name and cultural sensitivity—underscore Adelaide University's challenges in balancing corporate partnerships, environmental ethics, and social inclusivity as it forges its identity post-merger.
