Should LUU further support humanitarian efforts underway in Palestine?
Should LUU further support humanitarian efforts underway in Palestine?
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Passed: May 2024 (??th)
What is the current problem, and how does it affect students?
With all of Gaza’s universities having been destroyed, alongside other reports from such as targeting of hospitals, schools and civilian homes, students feel uncomfortable on campus. This has led to one occupation of Parkinson and an encampment on the centre of campus.
As PSG president I have helped organise vigils, fundraising events, forms of protest and social events to keep the student movement growing.
PSG itself has collected numerous testimonies about hostility faced on campus by Pro-Palestinian students and these have not been addressed by the union or university.
What is your proposed change? How will it benefit students?
An aspiring anti-racist organisation like LUU, like they did for Ukraine, should support student-led activity such as vigils. LUU should also:
set up fundraising points at cashiers for example and raise money for authorised charities such as Medical Aid for Palestinians and other humanitarian aid.
Amplify the voices of pro-Palestinian student groups including Jewish Pro-Palestinian students and work to support them through help and support. For LUU to encourage the university to help these people too.
For the union to liaise with the university to investigate planting an olive tree on campus with a plaque to remember all those murdered.
For the union to release a statement in solidarity with the civilians in Gaza and explain what they are doing to support students affected.
For LUU to pressure the university to support Gaza’s rebuilding of education systems and meaningfully engage with the demands of the protestors.
Expires: May 2027 (20th)
Submitted By: Safiyah Farid
Officer: All Exec Officers supporting implementation
Area of Work: Supporting students
Updates
October 2024: There has been continued communication with Idea Holder around the implementation of the Policy by the Exec. The Exec blog released at the end of September can be found here, and illustrates some of the ongoing work at LUU and the University, particularly in terms of Gazan Sanctuary Scholarships and CARA. Some more updates are below;
Olive Tree
Activities and Opportunities Officer has been working with the Idea Holder and PSG around the arrangements for this. The company that sells olive trees said that it needs to be in an outside areas. No longer within control of LUU if outside, so making sure to liaise with the University for a potted olive tree. It has been mentioned to Facilities Directorate team at the University. It's a collaboration between Plant Soc and PSG.
Supporting student's voices
Monthly meetings between LUU, PSG and University Executive Group, as a space created by LUU for PSG to lobby the university.
LUU supported an ISOCxPSG vigil relating to the current situation in Palestine on the 11th October. All Exec attended.
A student exec member advocated for no alignment with the arms industry at University's Ethics and Values Committee.
Fundraising
The fundraising charity at tills across LUU during November has been chosen in line with the policy. It will be UK-Med, a humanitarian medical aid charity that supports. Born out of the NHS, UK-Med are the only UK-based NGO to be verified as an Emergency Medical Team by the World Health Organization.
Co-Op are also fundraising for the DEC (Disaster Emergency Committee).
DentSoc and PSG were linked through to LUU's RAG also to decide whether they'd like to collaborate on fundraising activities for MedAidforPal.
September 2024-U&C Officer to meet with Idea Holder, with work delegated through the Officers and staff to support implementation whilst active over the next three years. Some work in the Union around Officer updates and University work around Sanctuary Scholarships communicated to Idea Holder.
June 2024- Officers and relevant staff identified to support the work on this specific policy.
May 2024-New Policy.
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