Cambridge University Jewish Society voted to support the referendum at a meeting last week. In a statement the JSoc said: “In light of the election of Malia Bouattia, whose rhetoric has disturbed many of our members, a referendum will allow Cambridge University students to decide whether they wish to be represented by the NUS.”
Campaign founder Jack May said: “This is a great decision from CUSU Council. The assembled representatives of over 22,000 students at the University of Cambridge have said in the strongest terms that they condemn the language used by the new president of the NUS. The coming referendum will now allow students to have their say on the NUS’s direction, and we encourage all students to vote on May 17th.”
Last Wednesday Oxford University student union council also voted for a referendum regarding NUS affiliation. It is due to take place before the end of the academic year.
Students at 10 universities across the country have launched campaigns to sever links to the NUS following the election of Malia Bouattia, who has previously described Birmingham University as a “Zionist outpost” and referred to “Zionist-led media” in a speech.
Meanwhile at Aston University, students are holding a referendum over whether the students union should “disassociate with companies and organisations which profit from or are complicit with the occupation of Palestinian territories”.
