What should Hull do about NUS President Malia Bouattia?

The controversy surrounding the recent election of Malia Bouattia as the NUS president has led some Universities to threaten disaffiliating itself from the student Union. This has led many to question whether Hull should follow suit.

Following her victory, she has said that she wants to put “liberation at the heart of our work.

“From cuts to maintenance grants, college closures, the black attainment gap and the Prevent agenda, the number of voices and groups being silenced by this government grows by day.”

She’s a black, muslim woman

Bouattia is the first black, muslim woman to be elected as president of the UK’s largest Student Union network. This should not be news in a society that promotes equality and opportunities for all. However, her election victory was not reported on as a victory for Malia, rather a victory for a black, muslim woman. Since 2000, six out of the ten elected NUS presidents have all been female. So this shouldn’t really be a talking point anymore.

She’s been accused of anti-semitism

Following comments made about Birmingham University, she was accused of anti-Semitism. In 2011, she wrote an article accusing Birmingham University of being “something of a Zionist outpost in British Higher Education”. Her election as president has, understandably, led to anger and questions from the Union of Jewish students.

Every University JewSoc in UK wrote a letter asking her to “address concerns over her past rhetoric”.  There are so many issues with her making this statement, it’s divisive and inconsiderate, it’s also completely untrue. There are 8,500 Jewish students studying in the UK – they should feel valued and represented in their own Union.

And she’s refused to condemn ISIS/ISIL/Daesh

She blocked a motion to condemn Islamic extremist group. and her perceived failure to condemn the actions of Daesh. We don’t like this. Extremism is unacceptable, and for her not to condemn such a dangerous and destructive pack of low-lives is also unacceptable. Especially now she’s in a pretty powerful and visible position.

Critics have accused her of refusing to condemn the actions of the Islamic extremist group. Although the NUS responded that she only disputed the wording of the motion.

What do you think? Should the HUU disaffiliate itself with the NUS?

Cambridge University Student Union is now threatening to disaffiliate itself with the NUS. The election of Malia Bouattia has caused another controversy for the increasingly out of touch and divisive NUS. Should HUU consider their position with the NUS.