The letter, which leaked to the Guardian, was sent to union officials by 21 former presidents dating back to the 1960s, including former Cabinet Secretary Jack Straw, Charles Clarke and Jim Murphy, Shadow Health Minister Wes Streeting and Mave Sherlock. “It is not just about protecting NUS’s reputation, but about honoring NUS’s proud anti-racism authorities,” the letter said. Others include Sky News presenter Trevor Phillips, Times columnist David Aaronovich and former Labor MPs Lorna Fitzsimons Stephen Twigg and Phil Woolas, as well as Shakira Martin, the first black woman to lead the NUS. New concerns have emerged from Jewish students following the invitation of rapper Lowkey to the centennial event, after he said the media had “armed its Jewish heritage”. [Ukrainian president] Zelenskyy “in order to ignore the alleged far-right activity in Ukraine. The protesting students said they were told they could stay away in a safe place during the show, although NUS has denied the allegations that they were separated. Lowkey left the event amid controversy. Complaints were also made by the Jewish Students Union (UJS) about comments made by the union’s president-elect, Shaima Dallali, including a post from when she was a young teenager, which read: “Khaybar Khaybar, Jews… Muhammad’s army will return Mo “, Referring to the massacre of 628. He has since apologized for the posting. Other social media posts are being investigated by the NUS board. The letter was revealed as NUS’s board convened a crisis meeting on Wednesday over the dispute. Lawmaker Robert Halfon, chairman of the Conservatives’ select education committee, said he had referred the NUS to the Charity Committee on the matter. Higher education minister Michelle Donnelan said last week that she was also considering reporting the NUS to the commission and that the government could suspend co-operation with the union over the allegations. Donelan also called on student unions across the country to “consider confidentiality unless things improve quickly.” Responding to criticism from Halfon and Donelan, the union said: “NUS takes allegations of anti-Semitism seriously. There is no room for anti-Semitism within the student movement. We have unreservedly apologized for the concern and anxiety caused in recent weeks and we are working to address any offenses and restore trust. “The board meets to stimulate our strong internal processes, including considering appointing an independent external party to support it. If we find that action needs to be taken, we will not hesitate to take action, as we have done in the past. For information, NUS is not a charity and we are not funded by public money. However, we gladly set ourselves the highest bar in terms of our behavior. “We welcome the opportunity to work with politicians, as we do with various government officials and advisers.” The letter, which was leaked to the current president of NUS, Larissa Kennedy, as well as to the trustees, stated that there is an urgent need to take the allegations more seriously. “We are writing to you privately as former presidents with serious concerns about the anti-Semitism, security and treatment of Jewish students at NUS events and in your democracy, and the way the NUS is responding to these concerns,” the letter said. The letter said it was “clear that NUS has a serious and significant problem”. The former presidents said the NUS should issue “a full and unconditional apology” for re-establishing ties with UJS and Jewish students and launching an independent investigation into anti-Semitism within the organization, including statements and tweets made by current and incoming officers. “We hope that the administrators understand the severity of the crisis facing the organization, the damage to reputation that exists and the potential existential threat posed by the re-recognition of NUS in the future of the organization – and your responsibility to act,” the letter said.
