UJS Conference Report Sunday 14 th December 2014 #haveyoursay #ujsconf14 1
This weekend, UJS held its Annual Conference. Students had the opportunity to debate and vote on policy ideas and vote for UJS Portfolio Officer and Advisory Board positions and to be on the Board of Deputies for UJS. The policies in this document will now be enacted by the UJS team over the coming year. Students also heard from NUS Vice President, Joe Vinson about the current challenges facing students in the UK and Sajid Javid, Secretary of State for Culture, Sport and Media who spoke on the diversity of culture within the UK and how we shouldn t be shy about sharing a range of thoughts and opinions. To the students who attended our Conference, thank you for contributing to the future of our union and ensuring that your voices were heard. Ella Rose, UJS President 2014-2015 2
COMMUNITY MOTIONS As passed by Conference: Motion C01 Title: A higher degree of co-operation between UJS (J-Soc) and Jewish fraternities and sororities on campus. Proposer: David Joels Seconder: Zak Shutkever 1. Many committee members and other students are already part of both J-Soc and a fraternity/sorority. With increased co-operation people will be less likely to feel that they need to choose one over the other. 2. All the organisations aim to offer options for Jewish students on campus. Students experiences are key for all parties. 3. More co-operation means a reduced likelihood of events clashing. There would be less of a need to pick one event over another, increasing potential attendance at all events. 4. Jewish fraternities and sororities in the UK are only exclusive based on gender. During a period of pledging, a potential brother/sister introduces themselves to current brothers/sisters and is educated on the ways and values of the fraternity/sorority. After this period of time it becomes apparent for both parties whether or not the fraternity/sorority is the right fit for them. 5. With more co-operation on campus, there is the huge potential to present a cohesive and united front on issues facing us all as Jewish students. It is increasingly important that we receive education on Israel and other contemporary issues so that we are all as informed as possible if/when we may be called upon to comment on such issues. 6. At Jewish Experience Week in Nottingham, the J-Soc stall was staffed by many AEPi brothers, already showing a willingness to work together from both sides. We would like to see this extended nationwide on Jewish awareness-raising projects, such as Mitzvah Day, and philanthropic ventures. 1. Jewish students being open to the idea of UJS (J-Soc) working in harmony with fraternities/sororities when planning Jewish and philanthropic events. 3
Motion C02 Title: UJS and Tzedek Proposer: Eli Gaventa Seconder: Lucy Cohen As an organisation that support the self determination of all people, UJS should work with partner organisations, such as Tzedek, to actively encourage all UJS members to take an active role in enabling others around the world to gain the agency required to achieve their international human right to self-determination. UJS should be encouraging all members to contribute to Tikkun Alom or Social Action, specifically international development. In this way UJS will continue in facilitating Jewish student s proud history of working to support disadvantaged groups and joining their peers in working for a fairer and more inclusive society. UJS will seek to form formal partnerships with Tzedek, the UK s only Jewish response to extreme poverty around the world, and other international development organisations. UJS will actively promote and encourage UJS members to engage in social action that works to combat global extreme poverty. This will include but is not limited to promotion and encouragement through fundraising, awareness raising and participation in Tzedek s Go Global volunteering programme 4
Motion C04 Title: UJS and Sustainability Resolves 4 was removed and the rest of the motion was passed in its entirety Proposer: Joanna May Sutton-Klein Seconder: Louis Trup 1. UJS should encourage sustainability, particularly placing emphasis on reducing food waste at JSoc events. 2. JSoc commitment to reducing food waste and to sustainability should be recognised at the UJS awards. 1. UJS will campaign for sustainability. 2. It will produce an online guide for how JSocs can become more sustainable. 3. It will produce an online guide to calculating how much food is required at JSoc events. 5
UJS MOTIONS As passed by Conference Motion U01 Title: Reaffirming UJS Commitment to the Two-State Solution Proposer: Elliot Miller Seconder: Jonathan Hunter UJS should reaffirm its commitment to the ''Two-State Solution.'' As with previous policy, UJS should continue to publicly advocate that self-determination is the right of both Israelis and Palestinians. A democratically ratified policy should serve as the basis for UJS' public campaigning in regard to Israel and the Middle East. This is already the case with UJS' commitment to tackle the BDS movement. We believe reaffirmation of UJS' commitment to the two-state solution should be approved on the basis of the following principles; 1.) We believe that a majority of Jewish students support a two state solution, and therefore it is important for this to be reaffirmed as UJS policy. 2.) The two-state solution is widely considered to be the only rational and moderate proposal to end the conflict. 3.) In August 2014, the National Union of Students' NEC nearly voted to reject its previous commitment to the two-state solution. In effect, elected representatives of the NUS nearly refused to accept the legitimacy (and existence) of the State of Israel. This distressing episode illustrates that the legitimacy two-state solution is under attack within the student movement - and UJS should defend the principle of ''Two States for Two Peoples'' more than ever before. 4.) As a humanitarian campaigning outfit dedicated to the idea of liberation, it is natural for UJS to advocate for the legal, moral and national right to self-determination of all peoples - including Israeli Jews and Palestinian Arabs. 5.) UJS' longstanding commitment to the two-state solution is the embodiment of the organisation's deeply held humanitarian and Zionist beliefs. 6.) The two-state solution supports the right of the State of Israel to exist within secure, negotiated borders. UJS has a longstanding commitment to promote Israel engagement among its membership. Supporting Israel's right to national sovereignty is therefore a default position considering UJS' existing activities. 6
Motion U03 Title: Jewish Welfare on Campus Proposer: Dario Celaschi Seconder: Coco Leaman That the only viable solution to the Israel/Palestine conflict is a two-state solution. That BDS (Boycotts, Divestment and Sanctions against the State of Israel) is not conducive to the peace process, it isolates the majority of Jewish students on campus and propagates antisemitism. That Israel advocacy and engagement is central to the work of UJS and one of the key factors of why the majority of Jewish students join their J-Soc. 1. That UJS will hold the position that the only viable solution to the Israel/Palestine conflict is a two-state solution. 2. That in order to protect the welfare of Jewish students and our allies on campus, UJS and its Campaigns team officers shall support J-Socs and individuals to campaign against BDS policy. This can range from but not restricted to support on the ground, over the phone and the releasing of statements by UJS on the matter. 3. That UJS will release a statement outlining its position on the conflict and also BDS after conference including a condemnation of unions which hold BDS policy including the NUS. 4. That UJS will hold an event and/or conference on how best to engage with Israel, inviting Israeli organisations from across the political spectrum to attend and hold sessions for attendees from Jsocs as well as having yearlong programs to enhance Jewish students relationship with our ancestral homeland the State of Israel. 5. For UJS to offer and roll out Ulpan (Accelerated Hebrew Classes) to all J-Socs and Jewish Students who are interested within the coming year free of charge to students themselves. 7
Motion U05 Title: Symbolic Motion to Commend UJS on Tackling BDS Proposer: Jonathan Hunter Seconder: Nathan Abraham We note that at UJS previous conference, participating delegates endorsed (by a substantial majority) a much-publicised policy to counter initiatives which would boycott, divest from, or sanction the State of Israel. This motion congratulates the team at UJS in particular, Ella Rose, Maggie Suissa, Russell Langer and Eylon Aslan-Levy for professionally lobbying the National Union of Students NEC to vote against an endorsement of the BDS movement. This motion is purely symbolic and has no bearing on UJS existing policy regarding BDS, which remains in force until December 2016. By voting for this motion, UJS democratically approves of UJS conduct during the recent (and very troubling) summer. By voting for this motion, this conference believes that UJS acted correctly in highlighting the dangers which BDS poses to individual Jewish students in particular, citing shocking examples of discriminatory practices at Sheffield and Manchester Universities. Finally, this motion applauds the UJS team for enduring a multitude of defamatory and personal attacks and for having the determination and courage to continue to stand for Jewish students across the UK, in spite of difficult circumstances. 8
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J-SOC AND CAMPUS MOTIONS As passed at Conference Motion J01 Title: UJS Transport Funding Proposer: Miranda Bud Seconder: Faye Moschowitz 1. UJS should help make big inter-j-soc events more accessible 2. Help J-Socs by providing funding/support for organising travel For big events such as booze for jews or JUEFA it is very difficult for JSOC'S to afford to organise transport. If UJS agreed to subsidies the cost of coaches it would mean that JSoc's would be able to afford to put on coaches to bring people from other cities to their events allowing for interactions of people from different JSoc's. 10
Motion J02 Title: Interfaith Proposer: Hannah Rose Seconder: Jordan Mizrahi 1. Increase awareness of Jewish presence on campus, in relation to other faith groups by strengthening ties 2. Improve relationships, understanding and tolerance between faith societies on campus 3. Enhancing the representation of faith groups within the Student Union 4. Combatting racism 5. Breaking down barriers of communication between faith societies 1. By UJS encouraging J-Socs to have a full-time interfaith officer on J-Soc committees 2. UJS should encourage and support J-Socs to facilitate interfaith events, open forums to allow students to ask questions they may feel uncomfortable asking and invite speakers which bring all faith societies together to combat common issues 11
Motion J03 Title: Increased funding for smaller J-Socs Proposer: Leanne Mitchell Seconder: Adam Kramer 1. UJS should have a larger budget for smaller J-Socs as larger J-Socs can buy in bulk (for example, for Friday night dinners and J-Soc lunches/meals) 3. UJS should change the budget by increasing it for smaller J-Socs so they can provide the same quantity per person 12
Motion J04 Title: Scottish delegate to UJS Conference Proposer: Jonathan Manevitch Seconder: Michelle Chernack UJS Conference is scheduled at a time that is extremely inconvenient for Scottish Jsocs, due to them clashing with exams at Scottish Universities. This means that Scottish Jsocs are not adequately represented at conference which leads to a democratic deficit. 1. We propose an elected or appointed delegate to represent the interests of Scottish Jsocs at Conference. 2. We propose that an elected or appointed delegate from Scottish JSocs would be beneficial for greater representation of the interests of Scottish JSocs at conference. This delegate would have to be flown out in time for conference so that he or she is able to represent Scottish JSocs without it causing inconvenience to his or her respective examinations. 13