We are deeply disappointed by the significant proportion of students who have voted against the establishment of a Jewish society at the University of Essex. Jewish societies, of which over 60 exist on UK campuses up and down the country, provide a space for Jewish students to celebrate their culture and identity. The fact that some students at the University of Essex deem it fit to vote against that is quite simply shocking.

It is very troubling that the CST 2018 report demonstrates a rise in antisemitism on UK campuses, following two years of declining reported and recorded antisemitic incidents on campus by the CST in 2017 and 2016. However, due to continued under-reporting, as with most types of hate crime, we are aware that the scale of the problem is not fully revealed.

The Union of Jewish Students welcomes the Equality and Human Rights Commission’s clarifications on Universities and Students’ Unions’ duty to protect freedom of expression, whilst similarly guarding students from harassment, intimidation and religious or racial hatred. We are proud to be influencing the conversation on freedom of speech in the HE sector, given that both this EHRC report and the Joint Committee on Human Rights’ investigation into free speech on campus mirrored our written and oral evidence. We look forward to seeing implementation of these recommendations on campuses in England and Wales, including free and informed debates on Israel-Palestine, whilst protecting Jewish students from those who would incite hatred and violence against us.

It is a sorry state of affairs that the all-student meeting at UCLSU has voted against the IHRA definition of antisemitism. 

At UJS Conference 2018, Jewish students voted to support the campaign for another referendum on Brexit

Please send in your nominations here by 19th March.

The annual UJS Student Awards is the opportunity to recognise everyone who has contributed and dedicated themselves to Jewish life on campus. It’s a time for students from all over the country to come together and celebrate their work and their achievements. 

We give awards for a host of different activities, from one-off events to extended projects, as well as a J-Soc’s overall contribution to Jewish life over the year. Awards aren’t just given for the event with the most attendees, the biggest J-Soc, or the campaign with the most social media likes. It’s given to students who have made a tangible difference to their campus. That might be a Friday night dinner for less than 10 people, or it might be a ball for 200. Now is the time to celebrate the students who work tirelessly and voluntary for their peers.

Any activity that has taken place since March 2018 whcih has not been nominated last year is valid for nomination. You can nominate your own event/project, or a friend’s. If you have any questions, please contact Louise.

If after my A-level results you said to me “you are going to go to Israel for the first time, become J-Soc president and work in the Jewish community” I would have laughed at and probably with you.

We are extremely pleased to note that the Office for Students, the independent regulator of Higher Education, has adopted the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance definition of antisemitism. This definition has been endorsed by the vast majority of the Jewish community including by UJS, the representative body of Jewish students.

We are pleased to announce the results of our National Council and Board of Deputies elections. The election was run by Russell Langer, UJS Returning Officer 2018, and counted through a single transferable vote (STV) system.

After a thrilling election period which saw three women candidates running against each other for the first time in 99 years, we can announce that the UJS President 2019-2020 is Esther Offenberg from Birmingham J-Soc!