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Forge Press ISSUE 147 | FRIDAY 30 OCTOBER 2020
THE UNIVERSITY OF SHEFFIELD’S INDEPENDENT STUDENT NEWSPAPER
FORGETODAY.COM
Students left frustrated over University at risk of university teaching module funding cut if they changes antisemitism Pippa Coleshill
Firth Court. Credit: George Tuli
Sophie Henderson Students have been left feeling frustrated after a total of 302 modules have been temporarily suspended across University departments this academic year. This number consists of 183 optional masters modules and 119 undergraduate modules, Forge Press can reveal. A further eight masters and 12 undergraduate modules have
been completely withdrawn by the University. For some students this has reduced opportunities for face-toface learning and affected the range of topics that will be taught. Jessica Kirk, an MSc Statistics student, will no longer be able to study her chosen modules. Speaking to Forge Press, she explained that the department has made all modules on the course, six in total, compulsory for each
student. Unlike previous years, students do not have a choice of which topics they learn. For Kirk, having been an undergraduate student in the department last year, this means that she will be repeating modules she has already done. She said while she understands the department is “overstretched at the minute”, they have been “pretty Continued on page 4 >>
Universities across England are at risk of having funding cut if they refuse to adopt an internationally recognised definition of antisemitism before the end of the year, the Education Secretary has warned. University of Sheffield is yet to adopt the definition after previous work by the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion committee was delayed due to the pandemic. Gavin Williamson, the Education Secretary, said in a letter to vicechancellors that it was “frankly disturbing” that many universities had not adopted the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s (IHRA) working definition of antisemitism. The IHRA believes there must be clarity about what antisemitism is and how it manifests itself in the 21st century in order to begin to address the problem. The IHRA’s working definition states antisemitism as: “A certain perception of Jews, which may be expressed as hatred toward Jews. Rhetorical and physical manifestations of antisemitism are directed toward Jewish or nonJewish individuals and/or their property, toward Jewish community institutions and religious facilities.” A Freedom of Information request by the Union of Jewish Students (UJS) found that as few as 29 out
of the 133 universities had adopted the IHRA definition - with the University being among the many that have failed to do so. Williamson said: “The repugnant belief that antisemitism is somehow a less serious or more acceptable form of racism has taken insidious hold in some parts of British society, and I am quite clear that universities must play their part in rooting out this attitude and demonstrating that antisemitism is abhorrent. “There remain too many disturbing incidents of antisemitism on campus, from both students and staff, and a lack of willingness by too many universities to confront this. “These providers are letting down their staff and students, and, shamefully their Jewish students in particular.” The University’s equality and diversity policy states it is committed to equality of opportunity and to treat all students with dignity and respect. Jewish students are frustrated at the slow pace of action at the University as work on antisemitism was delayed due to the pandemic. A spokesperson for the UJS told Forge Press: “Jewish students have been clear. They have been demanding that universities take antisemitism seriously and the first step of this is the adoption of the IHRA definition of antisemitism. Continued on page 4>>