A few months ago, University of Exeter Student and Student Guild candidate Jack Morewood had his candidacy suspended because at the NUS Conference, he congratulated Israeli PM Binyamin Netanyahu on winning the Israeli election. While his candidacy was subsequently reinstated, the University of Exeter Student Guild came out with a statement dissociating themselves from Jack’s actions, characterizing his congratulating Bibi as “hateful comments.” Jack hit back, releasing his own statement in which he demanded the Guild withdraw the statement and issue an apology.
I am glad to report that they finally did it.
Apology for NUS Delegate Statement
The Students’ Guild would like to apologise to University of Exeter student Jack Morewood regarding a statement released following his suspension, and subsequent reinstatement, from the NUS National Conference 2019, published 12 April 2019.
Following an investigation, it was found the statement released by the Students’ Guild unintentionally implied Jack’s comments at Conference were of a hateful nature, which we fully accept was not the case. We wholeheartedly apologise to Jack for this mistake on our part.
I am not sure why it suggests the student guild statement implied Jack’s comments were of a hateful nature – the statement was explicit in this regard.
Following Jack’s actions, the Guild President and lead delegate reiterated to Jack that he is a representative of the whole student body, and that he is expected to consider their views in what he says and does at conference. There is no place in our institution or in the national movement for hateful comments that may harm or isolate the students that we represent.
I am also not sure why this took so long, and required an investigation. Nevertheless, I am glad Jack has been vindicated and the student guild’s troubling views towards Israel exposed for all and sundry to see.
