A University of Oxford student has resigned from her role as vice-chair of her university committee, saying “Jewish people are now welcome” on campus following accusations of anti-Semitism.
Madeline Bryan was a member of the Junior Common Room (JCR) of St Hugh's College, a student committee.
The 20-year-old says a pro-Palestinian protest camp at the university signals a “growing tide of anti-Semitism” across the prestigious campus.
The JCR is both a student organization at the university and a physical space that serves as a hub for social activities and meetings between students.
The encampment protests started at American colleges but have since spread to British universities, including Oxford. The Oxford Action for Palestine group was established at the institute.
On Friday, police arrested seventeen people on suspicion of aggravated trespass following a sit-in at a university building.
Bryant, who is Jewish and from New Jersey, has filed a motion condemning anti-Semitic incidents around the university since the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7.
She claims that her motion was overruled by a working group, while another motion, in which the university demanded Israelwas approved for a vote.
Announcing her resignation to 400 JCR members, Bryant said, “I have seen my colleagues at this university chant the slogan 'Globalization of the Intifada' – a call for violence against Jews – but I was not prepared for it to St. Hugh's College was coming.
“It is clear to me that a number of students did not come in good faith last night. I will not serve JCR who treated me so cruelly. A JCR who smiled when I spoke. A JCR who refused to engage in productive debate and instead decided to shut down peace and progress.”
Jewish professors and students at Oxford presented a dossier of more than 70 anti-Semitic incidents to the vice-chancellor this month.
Speaking to The Times, Bryant added: “Anti-Semitism has gotten really bad lately, so I introduced a moderate motion calling for peace and a two-state solution.
“But I quickly realized that they were not interested in dialogue. People have attacked and attacked me because I am a Jew. I have received hate mail online. The people behind the camp claim that it is a safe place for Jews, but that is not the case.
Bryant says there is a “major problem” across the university, after hoping Britain would avoid similar situations to US colleges.
She says she has now come to the conclusion: “Jews are not welcome on campus.”
Express Online contacted the JCR committee at St Hugh's College for comment.