REFERENDUM: ‘Should the University reject the IHRA definition of antisemitism?’

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Information

The Board of Trustees have called a referendum on whether the University should reject the IHRA definition of antisemitism. This is the Students’ Unions second referendum in two years; the last one took place in November 2019 and was held on whether the Union should support the UCU strikes.

A referendum is a ballot in which all student members of the Union are entitled to cast a vote in. In order for this resolution to pass by referendum at least 500 student members must cast a vote and a simple majority of the votes cast are in favour of the resolution. In short, either yes or no will win to confirm the Union’s position on the IHRA definition of antisemitism.
 

What is the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition of antisemitism?

"Antisemitism is a certain perception of Jews, which may be expressed as hatred toward Jews. Rhetorical and physical manifestations of antisemitism are directed toward Jewish or non-Jewish individuals and/or their property, toward Jewish community institutions and religious facilities."

You can view the definition statement and examples here on the IHRA Website. 

Key information

Since the notice for the Referendum was published on 1 March, the Yes and No sides of the argument have registered their Lead campaigners, the campaign teams have been briefed and each side of the argument have taken up the opportunity to submit a case to provide students the opportunity to gain insight into the debate.

Following the debate, voting will open between 9am on 22 March – 4pm 25 March.

The options when voting in this referendum will be: 'yes', 'no' and 'abstain'

A vote for yes indicates support for the argument put forward by the 'for' or 'yes' side of the campaign question.

A vote for no indicates support put forward by the 'against' or 'no' side of the campaign question.

The elected Sabbatical Officers have produced a list of actions that they will take if students vote yes and if students vote no. The list is below:

If the IHRA referendum returns a no (i.e. the SU SHOULD NOT reject the IHRA definition)

1.The referendum outcome will be communicated to all students

2.The referendum outcome will be communicated to the IHRA Working Group and the wider University.

3.The sabbatical officer team will then be mandated to, through the Working Group, represent the views of its students as demonstrated through the ‘no’ outcome of the referendum

If the IHRA referendum returns a yes (i.e. the SU SHOULD reject the IHRA definition)

1.The referendum outcome will be communicated to all students
2. The referendum outcome will be communicated to the IHRA Working Group and the wider University.
3.The sabbatical officer team will then be mandated to, through the Working Group, represent the views of its students as demonstrated through the ‘yes’ outcome of the referendum

Please see the link to the Referendum Resource Hub here and buttons to additional links below.

Key Dates: