Union of Jewish Students

Jewish Students fight and win at NUS Conference! Antisemitism defeated and great new President elected!

The Union of Jewish Students played an instrumental part in making last week’s NUS Conference one of the most successful ever for Jewish students. Around 80 Jewish students were among 1000 delegates for a week of political debate in Blackpool. By the end of the Conference, UJS had secured a number of notable victories.

UJS played a key role in the election of a new National Executive Committee, with Wes Streeting, a member of Labour Students and a longstanding friend of UJS taking the presidency. The NEC also includes Joel Braunold, a Jewish student from Bristol, who has been a wonderful advocate of Jewish student rights on campus.

UJS hosted the largest fringe event of the conference with over 200 students attending a talk entitled ‘The Challenges of Contemporary Antisemitism’ addressed by David Hirsch and John Mann MP. The challenges faced were made all too clear by the distribution of antisemitic materials by the General Union of Palestinian Students (GUPS). Due to improvements in NUS over the last three years and the effective implementation of the EUMC Definition of antisemitism it was dealt with in the strongest possible terms and GUPS were removed from Conference. This kind of strong and swift action is what UJS has always called for and we are delighted to see it being implemented.

There were also major positives with policy being passed about the importance of faith chaplains, taking action on the genocide in Darfur and the importance of student events avoiding clashes with religious festivals. These are all issues highlighted by UJS and now the NUS will be taking them on as well.

UJS Chairperson Jessica Truman said:

“I’m delighted by the presence and attitude of so many Jewish students at NUS Conference. It is only by direct involvement that we can ensure the welfare of Jewish students is always protected. UJS offers its formal congratulations the new National Executive Committee on their elections and will be offering our full support to them over the coming year.”

UJS Campaigns Organiser Yair Zivan said:

“UJS has a proud tradition of promoting the rights of Jewish students and this year’s NUS Conference was one of our best moments yet. In Wes Streeting we now have a President who truly understands our issues, Joel Braunold will be an excellent advocate for Jewish student’s rights, antisemitism was dealt with effectively and we hosted the largest fringe event of the entire Conference. I am incredibly proud of every Jewish student who went to Blackpool and stood up for their rights!”