Alumni demand Oxford college address ‘terrible environment’ for Jewish students

They have urged college leadership to distance itself from the JCR’s motion and reaffirm its support for Jewish and Israeli students.

“We request that the college make a public statement highlighting that this motion reflects the view of the voting members of the JCR only and does not reflect the view of the college or alumni, that college members hold a range of views and that Israeli and Jewish students are welcome at St Anne’s.”

Israel is the only country that has been singled out for boycott by the JCR, and the alumni write: “The emphasis on divestment from Israel does little more than inflame the already binary views that are so entrenched.

“This motion comes at a time when antisemitism and discrimination against Israeli and Jewish students and staff is rife across the university.”

In a detailed response to the letter and in an email to the JC, King noted that the JCR operated independently from college leadership.

“It is neither possible nor desirable for the college to seek to directly control this [JCR motion],” she wrote.

“The position of St Anne’s governing body is that it does not vote on and will not debate motions that take a position on political or world events,” King went on.

“We also have to ensure that the academic freedom and principles of freedom of speech, which are so core to what a university is, are preserved.”

“I am meeting with and listening to individual members of the college who are Jewish. We don’t have any way of identifying them as a group, so inevitably this is not comprehensive, but I want to understand any concerns they have, offer support, and assure them that the college is committed to being an inclusive community,” King said.

One alumnus who signed the letter but wished to remain anonymous said: “Something much more hands-on is needed. As principal of a college, she is responsible for the experience that everybody has at the college.

“I can’t imagine how terrible the environment at St Anne’s must be for Jewish students. They [the leadership] are responsible for keeping students safe, but unless there is violence, I doubt they will do anything,” the alumnus added.

They said it was the responsibility of former students to “hold the college to account on Jewish safety”.

The letter from alumni comes three years after the college faced backlash when student leaders issued a different statement “in solidarity with Palestine”.

In 2021 the JCR released a letter lamenting the “destruction of Al-Aqsa Mosque during the holy month of Ramadan”. It offered support for Muslim and Palestinian students but not Jewish or Israeli students.

The incorrect accusation that Israel destroyed the Jerusalem mosque was posted on the JCR’s social media under the college crest. Some demanded a public apology or correction from the college at the time – although like the statement on BDS this month, the 2021 letter came from the student body and not the college.

Last week swastikas were carved into the toilet doors of Regent's Park College.

The next day 17 protesters were arrested for aggravated trespass and affray when an anti-Israel group occupied a university building.

In response to the occupation and arrests, Oxford leadership, including Principal Helen King, wrote, “We have begun to work on a collegiate University crisis scholarship scheme for students from Palestine.

“We do also remain absolutely committed to our continued dialogue with students and staff over how best we can support them and to work as an academic community to put in place scholarships and other resources to support Gaza.”

The letter also said that leadership had “met regularly with representatives of the Oxford Palestine Society, the Islamic Society, and the Jewish Society.” The Israel Society was not mentioned.

At Wadham College, the students union forwarded a motion that referred to the "tokenisation and weaponisation of Jewish identity", while students at Worcester College have been petitioning to stop funding from a scholarship for Israeli students

In an email to the JC, Principal Helen King said: “At the beginning of each year, we provide general equality and diversity training to all new students. Extending this to explicitly cover the definition of antisemitism is one of the ideas that will be explored prior to the start of Michaelmas Term.

“Email correspondence from one student, who is Jewish, stated: “Thank you for offering to meet with me today, I am very appreciative of the support I have received from you and the Dean of Welfare. I am immensely grateful to be linked to such a supportive college community.”

“All students at St Anne’s have access to comprehensive Welfare support. We have communicated with all students to remind them that anyone affected by current and recent events in Israel and Gaza is encouraged to seek out support from our professional Welfare team. Members of the team, from the Dean of Welfare to peer supporters, are available throughout term time, day or night. More widely, regular communications have been sent to staff and students since October 2023, reminding our community that there is no place for antisemitism, Islamophobia, or unlawful discrimination of any kind directed towards any faith, race, nationality or ethnic group at the University of Oxford. Where any instances of these behaviours do occur, students and staff are encouraged to report them so that investigations can take place and support can be provided.

“We seek regularly to reinforce the inclusive and welcoming ethos of St Anne’s, and build close and positive relations with those elected to [JCR and MCR] Committee roles in order to support these young people in developing the complex skills that will help them in their sometimes very challenging leadership roles. We remain committed to keeping St Anne’s an inclusive and welcoming place, and will continue work to identify where there are further opportunities to educate and support.”

St Anne’s JCR has been approached for comment.