‘Toxic’ NUS is no longer safe for Jews, says official
A SENIOR member of the National Union of Students has said the movement is “toxic” and warned that it is an unsafe space for Jews.
Izzy Lenga, who has served for two years on the organisation’s National Executive Council, said that Jewish students were the victims of “double standards” and, as a result, did not want to get involved in the union.
Ms Lenga twice walked out of an NEC meeting in tears this week because of what she called the “antisemitism” on display, adding that she could “no longer engage” with NUS president Malia Bouattia.
At the meeting to discuss the restructuring of an anti-racism committee, one NUS official referred to an amendment on how the panel should be selected as “not the final solution”.
The official later denied her remarks were intended to refer to the Holocaust.
Ms Lenga, a 22-year-old undergraduate at Birmingham University, said: “At the time I thought it was a terrible choice of words, but then I thought, ‘that’s horrendous’.
“It’s terrible because in the NUS we have a culture of not triggering or offending people, of not using words which have roots like that.
“This person used the words ‘final solution’ when talking about Jewish representation on an anti-racism, anti-fascism committee.”
Former education secretary Michael Gove said the NUS, which represents seven million stu- dents in 600 student unions across Britain, was now “a chilling environment and a cold home for students, particularly those who are Jewish”. Speaking in the House of Commons, Mr Gove said there were “voices and individuals within the NUS who have not upheld the best traditions of academic freedom”. Ms Lenga said: “The student movement in and of itself is toxic for Jewish students. Jews have a thriving Jewish life on campus, but they don’t want to get involved with the student movement, and rightly so.” At the NEC meeting on Monday, Ms Lenga had put forward a motion to re-establish an automatic place for a Jewish student on the Anti-Racism Anti-Fascism (ARAF) committee. Ms Lenga had proposed that the student should be selected in conjunction with the Union of Jewish Students (UJS), as had been the case until February, when . However, her motion failed after an amendment was passed stating that the 39 members of the NEC would vote on who takes up the role with no oversight from the UJS. The amendment was passed only after Ms Bouattia backed it using her casting vote. This change, Ms Lenga said, was “another example of double standards for Jewish students”, with other groups allowed to elect their representatives on the committee. She added: “In the NUS, a lot of people define what antisemitism is, whereas they would never define another kind of prejudice for
another group.” Josh Nagli, UJS campaigns director, said the NUS NEC had “once again showed its complete lack of commitment to Jewish students” by passing the amendment, adding that his constituents felt alienated.
“This decision is undemocratic and excludes the 8,500 Jewish students whom we represent,” he added, saying that he understood Ms Lenga’s reaction, and that she was on the “front line”.
By voting the amendment through, Mr Nagli said Ms Bouattia had “showed that she has absolutely no interest in defending Jewish students’ interests. Jewish students are right to feel unsafe in the national union that she leads. After today’s vote, it is clear that NUS, and specifically the NUS president, has no desire to listen to Jewish students.”
But Noha Abu El Magd, an NEC councillor who seconded the amendment, denied that the measure had been voted through to make sure the “right Jews” sat on the committee.
Ms Abu El Magd, a Bristol University PhD student, tweeted: “Actually the NUS voted to elect a working group with guaranteed rep for Jewish, Muslim, LGBT, and migrant members”.
Deborah Hermanns, a Jewish member of the NEC who serves as International Students councillor, also sec- onded the amendment. In response to criticism on Twitter, she wrote: “What do you mean ‘not listening to Jewish students’? I helped write the motion. Am I not Jewish enough?
“No problem with Jews. I am one,” she added. “And look forward to voting for a Jewish rep on new ARAF com- mittee.”
But Ms Lenga said the amendment was part of “the subtle singling out of Jewish students, the antisemitism which pervades silently but maliciously through the student movement.
“When Jewish students call it out, people try and brush it under the car- pet. It’s really crap. It’s got to the point where I expect it, which is a problem.
“It’s not a surprise when it happens, but it’s more and more upsetting that nothing’s getting better.
“Its cares me to think that maybe next year when I’m not sitting on the NEC, other Jewish students might be subjected to it. It upsets me that it doesn’t look like things are going to change.”
The NUS was asked about Ms Lenga’s comments and the use of the phrase “the final solution” during the meeting.
In response, a spokesperson said: “The NUS acknowledges that some of the language used at the NEC meeting on July 18 was inappropriate and offensive to some students.
“This will be raised at the next NEC meeting to make sure the importance of appropriate and respectful language is understood by all NEC members.
“The NUS wants to ensure that all students feel safe during NEC meetings and elsewhere and staff have reached out to Jewish students on NEC [and] will continue to support them.”