Board of Deputies Vice President Karen Newman has called on universities to ensure that they are welcoming places for Jewish students following the publication of a survey by the Union of Jewish Students showing antisemitic attitudes among students on campus.
She said: “The UJS Time for Change report makes for truly sickening reading. Jewish students should not have to worry that a fifth of their peers would not live with them because they are Jewish, or about the prevalence of support being expressed for banned terrorist groups.
“In the government’s important new social cohesion and extremism plan, they commit to tackle antisemitism wherever and however it manifests, with substantial proposals to tackle extremism in universities. It is incumbent on both the government and for our university sector to put those words into action.
“The Board of Deputies will continue to support the Union of Jewish Students in standing up for Jews on campuses and ensuring they can live their student days with Jewish pride. We will also continue our efforts with government to eradicate all hatred and discrimination faced by Jews, in any part of our society.
“Students are the leaders of tomorrow. This new publication is a wakeup call that for the sake of Jewish and non-Jewish students, the situation has to change. It is not for Jews to shrink their identity on campus to fit in, but for universities to ensure they are welcome and tolerant places for all.”