a Oxford university Student has resigned from a university committee after experiencing “blatant anti-Semitism” when other students “laughed” when she brought up anti-Jewish prejudice on campus.
In an open letter announcing her decision to quit as vice-president of the Junior Common Room (JCR) at St Hugh's College, Madeline Bryant wrote that she would not work for a committee that had 'treated me so cruelly'.
She said that “as a Jewish student I wanted to explain my own experiences with anti-Semitism,” but that the meeting turned into an “affront to social justice and a victory for anti-Semites everywhere.”
“Last night the JCR refused to live up to the values and community it is supposed to serve.
“It's a stain on the history of this college and it should be a stain on your conscience. St. Hugh's College has an anti-Semitism problem', said the letter, reproduced by student newspaper Cherwell.
Madeline Bryant (pictured) wrote her resignation letter after a 'three-hour' university meeting in which she said other members ignored her experiences as a Jewish student
Ms Bryant has resigned from her JCR position at St Hugh's College (pictured) amid allegations of 'anti-Semitism'
Pro-Palestinian demonstrators during a recent encampment protest in Oxford. In the photo: May 23
A protester walks during a demonstration in support of Palestinians at the University of Oxford
Protesters stand outside a university building during a campus demonstration at the University of Oxford
JCRs represent the students of Oxford's colleges and are not only concerned with organizing social events, but often deal with thorny political issues.
According to her account of the meeting, a motion “calling for the basic principle of equal treatment and peace” was “effectively rejected” by the student body, while a motion supported by radical pro-Gaza demonstrators at the university was allowed to go ahead. to full vote.
This motion 'defames and delegitimizes the Jewish people. It denies our ties to our ancestral homeland, dehumanizes Israeli academics and students, and fails to denounce the actions of terrorists,” Miss Bryant wrote.
Explaining her broader experiences, she wrote about seeing “my colleagues at this university singing 'Globalize the Intifada' – a call for violence against Jews,” and also highlighted how during the stormy meeting she had warned that the Hebrew language program of the university would be on the agenda. This risk exists if the university cuts ties with Israel, as urged by Oxford Action for Palestine (OA4P).
She said that 'the answer I got was, “So what?” with a smile'.
The row follows the discovery of swastika graffiti at another university in Oxford, which some also linked to JCR politics, shortly after pro-Gaza protesters clashed with police at the elite university.
Sir Malcolm Evans, head of Regent's Park College, told students that 'appropriate action will be taken if we become aware of the identity of those responsible'.
The Nazi symbols were found on the walls of two toilet cubicles next to the college's hall – the dining room – leaving Jewish students 'deeply upset'.
Her proposal for 'equal treatment and peace' was 'effectively rejected' by other students
Students said they were “slapped in the face” when the protest broke up
Protesters wave flags outside during the attempted occupation of an administration office in Oxford
Police arrested Oxford students who tried to occupy a university building
In recent days, Oxford students tried and failed to occupy a building in their latest demonstration against it Israelinto war Gazawhich led to the arrest of 16 people.
Oxford Action for Palestine, which is behind tent camps trying to replicate radical pro-Palestinian protests on US campuses, said the university “enabled an unprecedented level of violence against students” after the clash.
Furious members of the group posted a video on social media on Saturday, accusing a security guard of “slamming the door on the heads of students protesting the university's complicity in genocide.”
In fact, the video showed the staff member weakly urging them with his foot as he tried to gain access to a door they were blocking.
University heads had already been summoned Downing Street earlier this month to discuss the “unacceptable” rise of anti-Semitism on college campuses and the need for campuses to be “safe” for Jewish students.