NUS president dismissed over anti-Semitism claims
Discussion
Remarkable that she was ever elected in the first place 
NUS president dismissed over anti-Semitism claims
NUS president dismissed over anti-Semitism claims
So the Union of Jewish Students think she's somehome improper, because whatever has been said is unpublished, but serious enough for her to be removed from post.
The Federation of Student Islamic Studies think she's been attacked, and there is institutional islamophobia in the NUS.
What's the answer? Was the job specifically aimed at a minority applicant, for diversity/other reasons? Can we assume that a Jewish president would be scrutinised and targetted for any slip of the tongue by the "other" side?
Tribalism/sectarianism is now infesting what is historically the most accepting/inclusive/safest space of society, the Students Union.
The Federation of Student Islamic Studies think she's been attacked, and there is institutional islamophobia in the NUS.
What's the answer? Was the job specifically aimed at a minority applicant, for diversity/other reasons? Can we assume that a Jewish president would be scrutinised and targetted for any slip of the tongue by the "other" side?
Tribalism/sectarianism is now infesting what is historically the most accepting/inclusive/safest space of society, the Students Union.
SteveStrange said:
Tribalism/sectarianism is now infesting what is historically the most accepting/inclusive/safest space of society, the Students Union.
Not sure if serious. I was at Uni over 30 year ago when there was a unifying enemy in Thatcher and the identity politics was much simpler and friendlier (Live Aid, Red Wedge, Rock against Racism, Anti Apartheid Movement, Support the Miners) but union officers have always been a nasty bunch of ideologues fighting like rats in a sack.TwigtheWonderkid said:
SteveStrange said:
What's the answer?
Elect someone who is neither Islamophobic or anti semitic. Or racist towards any other group. It can't be that hard. "Why are you asking me if I'm anti-Jew? Is it because I'm Islamic? Why is the NUS application process suggesting this, is it anti-Islamic?"
or
"Why are you asking if I'm in any way Islampophobic? Is it because I'm Jewish? Why are the NUS being anti-semitic"
etc.
I agree in that it shouldn't be hard, but I can see how it would be very easily spun to give the impression of being exactly what they are trying to avoid. I haven't been a student in a long time, but even on here things get twisted to be something they're not, so I can imagine the NUS being a minefield.
I was harking back to simpler days when it was easy for the overwhelmingly white, middle class students to choose the 'right' side of any issue whether it be racial injustice, feminism or gay rights. By and large the Asian and Chinese students in were in STEM subjects and kept their heads down and worked so student politics was the preserve of white, social science and arts students.
Back in the day religious/ethnic student groups, were more motivated by the need to support minority students in an overwhelmingly white environment (for instance an issue for Jewish students was targetted, enthusiastic attempts at evangelism by Christian groups). Now there is a greater emphasis on defending protected characteristics and campaigning.
Nowadays the issues over which it was easy to choose the 'right' side are more tricky no middle ground it seems between eg. feminism and trans rights. Offence seems to have become synonymous with harm and there appears to be a belief that students should be protected from this harm.
Us oldies didn't leave a digital bread crumb trail documenting our dafter actions/pronouncements. A blurry photograph of someone in nazi uniform, drag or, horror of horrors, blackface, are the few, very unlikely, things which could haunt us.
Back in the day religious/ethnic student groups, were more motivated by the need to support minority students in an overwhelmingly white environment (for instance an issue for Jewish students was targetted, enthusiastic attempts at evangelism by Christian groups). Now there is a greater emphasis on defending protected characteristics and campaigning.
Nowadays the issues over which it was easy to choose the 'right' side are more tricky no middle ground it seems between eg. feminism and trans rights. Offence seems to have become synonymous with harm and there appears to be a belief that students should be protected from this harm.
Us oldies didn't leave a digital bread crumb trail documenting our dafter actions/pronouncements. A blurry photograph of someone in nazi uniform, drag or, horror of horrors, blackface, are the few, very unlikely, things which could haunt us.
Sheets Tabuer said:
Leader of 7m Students, don't they mean 250 nutters and 6.99m people that only signed up for cheap beer?
Down with your hetronormative patriarchal post-colonial fascist comments, don't you realise that implying 'the ends of the bell curve are bell ends' causes severe mental harm?[Can you get crisps while you're up?]
andy_s said:
Sheets Tabuer said:
Leader of 7m Students, don't they mean 250 nutters and 6.99m people that only signed up for cheap beer?
Down with your hetronormative patriarchal post-colonial fascist comments, don't you realise that implying 'the ends of the bell curve are bell ends' causes severe mental harm?[Can you get crisps while you're up?]
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