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NUS launches survey of Jewish students in wake of wave of antisemitic protest

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The National Union of Students has launched a survey of the experiences of Jewish students at UK universities.

It is the first time the union has conducted research into a faith group.

NUS is asking “self-defining” Jewish students to answer a range of questions on campus life, including what it calls the “culture of debate”.

NUS said the results, which are expected to be released next March, will be used "to develop recommendations for students’ unions to ensure Jewish students feel welcome on campus”.

The recommendations will be developed in conjunction with the Union of Jewish Students.

“With many Jewish students expressing negative feelings about the student movement in recent months, this is a welcome opportunity for them to formally express their experiences of being Jewish students on UK campuses in 2016

Rob Young, NUS vice president (society and citizenship), said: “I want to make sure the doors of the student movement are open to everyone and to do this, we need to hear directly from Jewish students how they are feeling on campus.

“It’s so important we make sure universities are inclusive and welcoming to Jewish people, and students’ views are vital in helping us to identify any issues and work to resolve them.”

A spokesperson for UJS said: “With many Jewish students expressing negative feelings about the student movement in recent months, this is a welcome opportunity for them to formally express their experiences of being Jewish students on UK campuses in 2016.

“Like all minority groups, Jewish students have the right to feel welcome at university, and we are hoping that the results of this survey will provide effective and robust recommendations for NUS and students’ unions to ensure Jewish students have a safe and positive experience on campus.”

The survey comes amid concerns over the security of Jewish students on campus.

Last month there were violent scenes at University College London when students attending a lecture by a former IDF officer were confronted by a mob of anti-Israel activists and had to be escorted to safety by police.

In January, police were called after a pro-Israel meeting at King’s College London was disrupted by pro-Palestinian protesters.

Unease among Jewish students increased with the election in April of Malia Bouattia as NUS president.

Ms Bouattia has described the University of Birmingham as a "Zionist outpost in higher education" with the "largest JSoc in the country" and has referred to a "Zionist-led media".

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