THE National Union of Students has welcomed the decision by Cambridge University students to remain in the NUS after they rejected a motion to leave.
Cambridge is one of several universities to hold disaffiliation votes after Malia Bouattia, who the Zionist lobby accused of anti-semitism, was elected as NUS president. Elected last month, Bouattia, 28, is the first black Muslim to hold the post of NUS president.
She has said she is ‘extremely uncomfortable with insinuations of anti-semitism’, insisting: ‘For me to take issue with Zionist politics is not me taking issue with being Jewish’. Over half of the 6,178 students who voted rejected the motion.
The full results were: 6,178 students voted – a turnout of 28.76%.
51.5% or 3,183 students voted against disaffiliation.
46.6% or 2,880 were for disaffiliation.
1.8% or 115 abstained.
Richard Brooks, NUS vice president (union development), said: ‘I’m delighted that Cambridge University students have voted for their students’ union to remain a part of the National Union of Students. We are currently developing new democratic structures and are planning reforms to our membership model.
‘We look forward to implementing these changes with the support of Cambridge University Students’ Union. This vote comes at a crucial time for students across the country as we stand up to the undermining of students and attacks on young people.
‘It means that Cambridge students will continue to be part of our national voice.’
Cambridge University Student Union President Priscilla Mensah said the high levels of engagement in the referendum meant the vote was ‘definitive’.
Mensah, who campaigned against disaffiliation, said she was ‘pleased that Cambridge students will continue to have a voice in shaping and changing NUS for the better’. In votes earlier this month, student unions at Exeter, Warwick and Surrey also opted to remain.
Loughborough and Worcester universities will also remain with the NUS after their votes were ruled inquorate as too few students took part. Newcastle, Lincoln and Hull have voted to disaffiliate. A vote at Oxford University is scheduled for this week.
