Jewish student reelected to top NUS body after helping pass antisemitism motion

Bristol student Sally Patterson capped a memorable week on Thursday by being re-elected to the ruling body of the National Union of Students, just two days after winning an award from the Union of Jewish Students.

Patterson was re-elected on the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the NUS at the union’s annual conference.

Days before being re-elected onto the NUS NEC ‘Block of 15,’ she helped pass two motions to combat Islamophobia and antisemitism, which encouraged Student Unions to roll out training.

“Our Jewish students feel unsafe,” she told 700 students. “There is still ignorance when it comes to antisemitism. We cannot afford for it to fall off the long list of motions we won’t have time to discuss. It’s time to show solidarity with Jewish students now.”

Patterson was not alone in celebrating success – Sabrina Miller was elected onto the NUS Democratic Procedures Committee (DPC). UJIA’s director of strategy Robin Moss praised her as “a leader making her mark on student politics”.

The Union of Jewish Students (UJS) congratulated both, saying: “We are proud that Jewish students have been elected to positions of leadership within NUS, which is an empowering message to Jewish students across the country.”

Two other Jewish students – Dominic Casoria and Gabe Milne – were not elected, but UJS praised their “brilliant” campaigns.