Thursday 29-09-2016 - 17:14

Durham Student' Union President Alice Dee, Academic Affairs Officer Lisa Whiting, and Development Officer Adam Jarvis, have added their names to a letter from NUS and Students' Unions expressing support for Jewish students across the UK. The letter highlights the rights of Jewish students to feel represented, safe and welcome in their students’ union and in the National Union of Students. They were joined by Esther Green, a Durham University student and member of the NUS National Executive Committee.

Durham SU wants to make sure that Jewish students feel valued on our campus and in our community, and welcomes any dialogue with Jewish students about how we make this a reality.

Open Letter:

"We, the undersigned, are proud of NUS’ and Students’ Unions long and proud history of working together to combat fascism and racism on campuses and in wider society. We believe that a fundamental role of the student movement is to protect and defend our most vulnerable students, and champion their causes. It is in keeping with our values as a movement, to ensure that every single student feels safe and welcome within NUS and to lead our national movement.

Over the past six months, NUS’ Leadership has rightly come under increased scrutiny for its attitude towards Jewish students. They have been held to account for undermining Jewish students’ ability to elect their own representatives, and challenged on antisemitic rhetoric. Ultimately this was a key issue in a number of disaffiliation campaigns from Students’ Unions across the country. This will continue unless properly addressed.

As was demonstrated by the article published in The Guardian recently, and its discussion of antisemitism within the student movement, Jewish students have repeatedly highlighted concerns and yet again their voices have been dismissed. Time and time again Jewish students have not felt safe participating in our national movement, because of the actions and rhetoric of leadership of NUS.

We, the undersigned, stand with Jewish students in their right to feel represented, safe and welcome in participating in NUS’ democracy.

We must listen to Jewish students when they say something is antisemitic. We apologise for anything or anyone that would make you feel otherwise, and promise to respect, champion and listen to your concerns. The student movement and NUS is absolutely a place for you.

Signed,

Richard Brooks, NUS Vice President Union Development
Rob Young, NUS Vice President Society and Citizenship
Shakira Martin, NUS Vice President Further Education
Vonnie Sandlan, NUS Scotland President
Fergal McFerran, NUS-USI President, NUS NEC
Carmen Ria Smith, NUS Wales Deputy President
Ellen Jones, NUS Wales Womens Officer
Angela Alexander, NUS Scotland Women’s Officer, NUS NEC
Melantha Chittenden, NUS LGBT+ Officer (women’s place), NUS NEC
Jasmine Manning, National Society of Apprentices, NUS NEC
Sion Davies, NUS NEC
Matt Grange, NUS NEC
Esther Green, NUS NEC
Izzy Lenga, NUS NEC
Nina Mehmi, NUS NEC
Omar Raii, NUS NEC
Rachel Holland, Leicester Students’ Union President, NUS NEC
Kate Dearden, Labour Students National Chair
Lucy Woodcock, Bath Students’ Union President
Alice Dee, Durham Students’ Union, President
Lisa Whiting, Durham Students’ Union, Academic Affairs Officer
Rosie McKenna, Edge Hill Students Union Women’s Officer
Chris Slesser, Falmouth and Exeter Students’ Union President Falmouth
Alexa Webster, Falmouth and Exeter Students’ Union President Community and Welfare
Amanda Chetwynd-Cowieson, Falmouth and Exeter Students’ Union President Student Experience
Tom Murray-Richards, Falmouth and Exeter Students’ Union President Exeter
Grainne O’Monghain, Hertfordshire Students’ Union President
Shelby Loasby, Hertfordshire Students’ Union Vice President
Annabel Mabin, Hertfordshire Students’ Union Vice President
Emily Horsfall, Keele Students’ Union Union Development and Democracy Officer
Natalie Jordan, Keele Students’ Union Welfare and Internationalisation Officer
Rory Murray, Kent Union President
Ruth Wilkinson, Kent Union Vice President Activities
Jamie Ali, Leeds University Union Community Officer
Will Fry, Lincoln Students’ Union Vice President
Kira Cox, Liverpool Hope Students’ Union President
Ayo Akinrele, Liverpool Hope Students’ Union Vice-President
Jamie Bennett, Liverpool Students’ Union Vice President Academic Quality
Joe Cox, Middlesex Students’ Union Vice President
Katie Dragonmirova, Middlesex Students’ Union Vice President
Dom Trendall, Sheffield Students’ Union President
Amy Rust, University of East Anglia Union Campaigns and Democracy Officer
Josh Gulrajani, University of Essex Students’ Union Vice President Education
Jess Rich, University of Essex Students’ Union Vice President Welfare and Community
Freya Thompson, Westminster Students’ Union President
Bruna Eduardo Silva, Teeside University Students’ Union President
Millie Beach, York University Students’ Union President
Piers Wilkinson, Students with Disabilities Officer NUS Wales
Adam Jarvis, Durham Students’ Union Development Officer
Kieran Parish, Bishop Grosseteste Students’ Union President
Luke Smith, Bishop Grosseteste Students’ Union Vice President
Hope Jessica Barnes, Blackburn College President
Luke Humberstone, Highlands and Islands Student Association President
Jo Goodman, Birmingham City Students’ Union President 
Ellie Keiller, University of Birmingham Guild of Students President
Alex Lusty, York Students’ Union Activities Officer
Zander Lavall, St Mary’s University Students’ Union
Toby Gladwin, Exeter Guild President"