Meet the Jewish students running for UJS president

Throughout my time on campus, I have always been a passionate advocate for Jewish students. This has manifested through my current role as a CAMERA on campus fellow, and as the chair of the Birmingham Israel Society, a student-led initiative dedicated to educating the wider population about the modern Jewish state. Outside of Birmingham, I am a delegate for UJS on the Board of Deputies of British Jews. 

JC: What are the main challenges for Jewish students today and what are your plans to tackle them? 

Right now, the pandemic is the main challenge facing not just Jewish students, but the global community. Having spoken to many Jewish students across the country, they feel exhausted by Zoom and other online events that are currently being offered. I have already heard that fresher engagement with UJS is down 30 percent compared with recent years, and that is largely due to the pandemic. 

Whilst in the current climate there may not be any feasible alternatives, one of my key pledges is to focus on helping our JSocs to facilitate COVID-secure events when restrictions permit. Friday night dinners is a prime example of the kind of event that students tell me that they are really missing and I believe helping our societies to host in-person events once again will be pivotal to rekindling the Jewish experience on our campuses. That is why I am pledging to implement a comprehensive COVID strategy if I am elected.

COVID-19 has also caused another major pandemic at our universities, a very severe mental health crisis. With social interaction limited, many students feel increasingly isolated and depressed. It is vital now more than ever that our mental health services are there for these students, whenever and whatever the circumstances. This will be a priority of mine If I am elected. 

However, we also have good reason to be optimistic! It is fantastic to see the coordination and collaborative work that has taken place between UJS, JSocs, Chaplaincy, Aish and Chabad all around the country to ensure students are offered takeaway Friday night meals which they can enjoy at home. 

JC: What are your views on the BDS movement and its place at UK universities?

If elected, I will take a zero-tolerance approach towards the BDS movement at universities, and I will provide those Jewish students with the help they need to combat such delegitimisation campaigns. Since over 90 percent of British Jews strongly identify with the state of Israel and support its right to exist, most Jewish students feel unsafe when BDS is active on their campus. 

JC: Some universities have refused to adopt the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance definition of antisemitism. What are your views on this issue?

I believe that the IHRA, including all the examples, is the best tool out there for Jews to define their own oppression. The definition has already been adopted by many mainstream British institutions, including the Government, both major political parties, as well as many councils and municipalities. Therefore, there is no excuse for universities and student unions to not adopt this definition as well. This is what most of the British Jewish community are demanding, and our voices should no longer be ignored.       

JC: Can the way in which UJS operates be improved and if so how?

It is important that UJS is there to represent all Jewish students, regardless of religious or political affiliations. This can prove difficult at times, especially when there is such diversity of views around contentious political issues. This includes the current policies of the Israeli government, but also regarding socio-political movements that have gained traction in recent times. Therefore, it is essential that UJS do not take partisan positions on such controversial subjects where there is very little consensus in the wider Jewish student community. Unfortunately, this has not always been the case. UJS should generally avoid endorsing overtly political campaigns, and instead focus on agreeable policies which prioritise Jewish students and provide them with the support they need and deserve. This includes, but is not limited to, conducting a budget review so more money is spent on JSocs, and improving our mental health resources for Jewish students. These are developed in my manifesto commitments.

Jodie Franks, 21, studies classical civilisation at the University of Leeds 

JC: Tell us about yourself and why you're running.

I was the university chair on Leeds Jsoc committee, I am currently a member of the UJS national council, and serve as a UJS trustee. I understand the impact of a strong representative for Jewish students, and this is why I am running for UJS president. I want to facilitate an active Jewish life for all students, one where they feel welcome and safe to come together and share opinions. This year more than ever, the president of UJS must be approachable and empathetic to the needs of students, and I feel I am the right person to fill this role. 

JC: What are the main challenges for Jewish students today and what are your plans to tackle them? 

One main challenge for all students today is loneliness. As a wellbeing representative for Jami on campus, we had many discussions on the topic of loneliness and isolation, and that was before Covid-19! Helping students, especially new students, to connect to one-another is one of my main goals as president. This year, I piloted a Jewish housing scheme in Leeds, with the aim of putting Jewish students with similar preferences in touch to discuss living together in 2021 and 2022.

JC: Do you have any plans to boost Jewish life on campus? How will you get Jewish students more involved in UJS particularly in the age of covid-19?  

Of course! I think it is important to remember that whilst being president of UJS will be my full time job, organising Jsoc events tends to be secondary to students’ degrees. Therefore, I will make it as easy as possible for Jsocs to be active on their campuses. One way I will do this is publishing a simple recipe book for Friday night dinner, with recipes contributed by students of all backgrounds and nationalities. During Covid-19, we need to take advantage of online platforms to bring campuses together. Organising national events such as a supper quiz, an Israel webinar and debates will encourage students to sign up with their friends from other campuses, leading to them playing an active part in their own Jsoc.  

JC: How would you describe the state of antisemitic hate speech on campus? Have you ever experienced racism at university?

Fortunately, I have never personally been a victim of antisemitic hate speech on campus however as a JSOC, Leeds has been. The online world and technological developments have provided a platform for events to have a wider spread. This ability to share content via a huge range of online platforms has given rise to a new wave of antisemitic hate speech, Furthermore, the lack of in-person monitoring of events due to COVID-19 is also a big problem. This is why it is so important to continue to educate Jewish students on how to recognise and deal with antisemitism on campus. 

JC: What are your views on the BDS movement and its place at UK universities?

The BDS movement leaves Jewish students feeling unsafe on campus. As a Zionist, I oppose BDS in all its forms, alongside the majority of Jewish students who continually vote to take action against the BDS movement at UJS conference. I am committed to a peace and dialogue-based approach, as there will be no resolutions without communication and mutual respect.

JC: Some universities have refused to adopt the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance definition of antisemitism. What are your views on this issue?

Adopting the IHRA definition of antisemitism is not a guarantee that there will be no more antisemitic incidents on campus. What it does mean is that if there is an incident, Jewish students can rely on their universities to support them. It is a top priority of my presidency to work with our students to pressure all universities to adopt the IHRA definition. For those universities who have refused to adopt it, we must question this whilst simultaneously supporting the Jewish students on those campuses. 

Miles Stewart-Compton, 21, studies politics and philosophy at the University of Southampton

JC: Tell us about yourself and why you're running.

I grew up in south west London (yes you heard me, south!) before moving to Southampton to study politics and philosophy in 2017. I have a long history of political involvement, activism and charity work stemming from my experience as a junior ambassador for the charity JDRF, for whom I lobbied MPs for greater funding into type one diabetes research in 2012. 

I joined the Jewish Society at my freshers’ society fair and became its president in 2019 and its VP in 2020. 

I am running to push for a bolder and better UJS, supporting and including all Jewish students through what is set to be an increasingly unpredictable year. I am running on a platform of structured change for UJS to embolden its already great efforts in accountability, inclusivity and support for all Jewish students. At its core my campaign is about securing the best future for every Jewish student and pushing for bolder activism from UJS, especially with regards to the climate crisis.

JC: What are the main challenges for Jewish students today and what are your plans to tackle them?

From my conversations with Jewish students there are three main challenges troubling them at the moment: living through lockdown, dealing with antisemitism with tangible and targeted support from their universities and unions, and also like all young people, navigating our increasingly scary and unstable wider society. To tackle these issues we need to deliver targeted support to J-Socs regardless of size, helping them organise online events and amazing drives we have already seen such as Friday night dinner deliveries and online socials.

These projects truly will be the forefront of maintaining and stimulating Jewish life (almost) on campus. It is not a secret that a number of mental health and wellbeing services are failing their students. I will put pressure on universities and the institutions within them to demand better for and inform them upon the needs of all Jewish students. 

We must also use our collective power as well as education and celebration drives to fight antisemitism at its core: ignorance.  We must also fight on other issues, supporting students in their campaigns of climate change, and inequality – like Southampton JSoc’s volunteering with a local food-bank. We must always stay fully accountable to our students, letting their views and needs shape our every move, through constant open platforms to speak to the president and the team about their concerns. UJS has been such a great support to all J-Socs but I truly believe there is always more that can be done!

JC: How would you describe the state of antisemitic hate speech on campus? Have you ever experienced racism at university?

First of all we should acknowledge that our universities have amazing diversity, and most of the time Jewish students have really positive experiences, that we don’t talk about enough! But regardless, it is upsetting and unnerving to hear more and more reports of antisemitism and anti-Jewish hatred at university and in wider society. Sadly, this is nothing new. 

Although I have never had antisemitic abuse directed at me specifically on campus, I have heard antisemitic comments made when people are unaware of my background. We also need to be aware of how antisemitism manifests differently for different students, and in light of the past year UJS should have a Jews of colour caucus to better represent this often talked-over minority.  It is imperative that all Jewish students feel safe, especially whilst at institutions that have a duty to protect them.

JC: What are your views on the BDS movement and its place at UK universities?

Although I believe in inclusive, free and fair debate on the Israel and Palestine conflict, the BDS movement have time and time again shown they have no interest in such discourse; whilst often speaking over the actual interests of the people they are supposed to represent. There is a clear difference between legitimate criticism of the actions of the Israeli government and anti-semitism that they simply cannot seem to grasp and unfortunately I have personally seen this vitriol expressed a number of times. BDS on campus should be resisted and opposed, but this should not prevent legitimate protest at actions of the Israeli government.

JC: Some universities have refused to adopt the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance definition of antisemitism. What are your views on this issue?

I believe it is of the utmost importance that all universities adopt the IHRA definition of antisemitism and thankfully Southampton swiftly adopted the definition with little pressure from our J-Soc, however some universities have not been so lucky. I believe the best way to help J-Socs push for the definition to be adopted is through direct and targeted activism. 

However, this isn’t the only issue we should be active on. From climate justice to income inequality, LGBT+ inclusion to other forms of racism, our students care about a range of political issues and I believe UJS should fight on those fronts just as hard as it currently fights over antisemitism. Using all of our Jewish students and UJS as an organisation as a mouthpiece, our message will be heard, and it won’t stop being heard until there is change on the issues our students care about.

JC: If you had one final thought to share with Jewish Chronicle readers, what would it be?

2020 has been a historical, divisive and challenging year for everybody, but as we are all too aware Jewish people have been resilient in the face of adversity and hardship. I believe today is no different. UJS need radical change in order to adapt to these ever-shifting circumstances and regulations. We need more targeted support for all J-socs and all Jewish students. We need to re-haul subsidies to ensure J-Socs and their events are accessible for all. We need to further our commitment to supporting and celebrating all of our minority groups and most of all celebrate and educate the wider public on our amazing, diverse community! 

Nina Freedman, 20, studies English at the University of Bristol 

JC: Tell us about yourself and why you're running.

As Bristol JSoc president, I countered multiple instances of antisemitism, fought for the IHRA definition to be adopted by our board of trustees, countered a BDS motion and created a lively and fun social atmosphere through Friday-night dinners and JSoc parties. As president, I always put my students first and made sure that everyone was represented. I believe that I can take this experience and transfer it to UJS, allowing me to listen to the concerns of Jewish students and implement real solutions. 

JC: What are the main challenges for Jewish students today and what are your plans to tackle them? 

Antisemitism remains one of the largest challenges that our students will face during their time at university. This is largely due to the lack of understanding about what constitutes antisemitism. I plan to run antisemitism awareness weeks in partnership with students’ unions across the country in order to address common misconceptions about Jewish people and teach students how to engage in discussions about Israel in a non-hurtful manner. 

Many students are facing mental health difficulties following the pandemic and the resultant isolation. I believe that UJS could be doing more to help students with their mental health, and I plan to set up a wellbeing hotline that students can access during working hours, in order to chat through some of the problems they may be encountering. 

By providing accessible support, we can help our students feel connected to and uplifted by their union. Finally, many students are concerned about their career prospects as they near graduation and many have had vital work experience cancelled due to the pandemic. By establishing a proper alumni network, I hope to offer career opportunities and advice to current students and to relieve some of the extra pressure that the pandemic has added. 

JC: Do you have any plans to boost Jewish life on campus? 

In the age of COVID-19, our priority needs to be reconnecting our students. Many of them will have never experienced a proper Friday night dinner or JSoc event and may not feel connected to their Jewish student community. By offering Zoom training to JSoc committees, we can teach them how to hold engaging and fun online events to entice new students.      This pandemic actually gives us a great opportunity to hold national events without worrying about problems of travel or accessibility. We should take advantage of this and hold more national social events in order to connect our students to their wider Jewish community. 

Most students experience their connection to UJS through Friday night dinners at their JSoc. Obviously, this is impossible in the current climate but I plan to facilitate JSocs across the country to prepare Friday night dinner packs that can be handed out to Jewish students. I would also encourage JSocs to host Zoom events prior to Shabbat to engage with their members. Though students may not be able to have the same social experience as they would at an in-person Friday night dinner, we can at least provide them with some comfort and Jewish connection during their Friday nights. 

JC: Can the way in which UJS operates be improved and if so how?

Most Jewish students have little to no idea about the work UJS does on a daily basis. Many feel disconnected from their union as they do not know how it is representing and working for them. I hope to make students feel more connected by holding monthly Q&A sessions with students and providing accountability reports on how UJS is doing. This will close the gap between UJS and its students and make it feel more relevant as Jewish students will be able to observe and shape the way that it is running. 

Answers were edited and condensed for brevity. 

Voting closes on 4 December and the result will be announced at the annual UJS conference on 6 December.