EUSA refuses to walk away from NUS despite row over anti-semitism

EUSA doesn’t take anti-Semitism seriously according to Jewish students


Jonny Ross-Tatam, EUSA President, has ruled out a separation from NUS despite claims that newly elected NUS President Malia Bouattia holds anti-Semitic views.

Tatam admitted a concern about the presence of anti-Semitism within NUS, but said “there are no plans to disaffiliate”.

“Over the years, elected NUS officers have achieved a lot for students on a variety of issues, from LGBT rights to student funding and they are capable of achieving much more.”

“NUS affiliation also benefits EUSA’s commercial and trading services by roughly £400k p/a, meaning more money for student services.”

Jonny and the team

Students at Manchester, York, Exeter, Oxford and Cambridge have already began campaigns to convince their student unions to separate from NUS.

Tatum instead called for NUS to better represent Edinburgh students, but many worry that it is Jewish students who are lacking representation in EUSA following a string of events that have led to claims that EUSA does not take anti-Semitism seriously.

Yesterday a highly anti-Semitic poster was found at Kings buildings, while last month a debate, headed by the BDS movement, saw a motion pass to promote the boycotting of Israeli products.

The recent BDS vote

Vice Chair of the Israel Engagement Society, Theo Robertson-Bonds, who recently ran for EUSA President, said that consideration needs to be given to whether or not certain minority groups have enough of a voice in EUSA.

“People are selective, on the one hand being willing to listen to the concerns of some minority groups, but ignoring others”.

While Noa Cohen, also of the Israel Engagement Society, said that Edinburgh was at “a tipping point”.

“Bigotry is manifesting itself even more blatantly than before, and this makes me worry for the safety of myself and other Jewish students.”