Reimbursement of £15,000 in tuition fees for student amid claims of a ‘toxic antisemitic atmosphere’
Noah Lewis recounts being compelled to halt his education and enduring accusations of being a ‘white supremacist Nazi’ due to his pro-Israel stance.
Soas University of London has refunded a student £15,000 in tuition fees after he asserted he was compelled to discontinue his studies owing to a “toxic antisemitic atmosphere”.
Additionally, the university is contemplating commissioning an independent investigation into allegations raised by the student regarding antisemitic conduct on campus.
This decision comes amidst mounting pressure on universities to embrace the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition of antisemitism. Education Secretary Gavin Williamson chastised several universities in October for their “reluctance to address [antisemitism]”.
Last year, the government mandated that universities take more robust measures to eradicate antisemitism on campus following reports from Jewish societies about having to finance security measures for speaker events.
Noah Lewis, a Canadian national, enrolled as a student at Soas during the academic year 2018/19. He contends that during his tenure at Soas, individuals identifying as Jews or supportive of Israel were branded as “Zionists”, while antisemitic graffiti and symbols were discovered on lockers, desks, and restroom walls. Moreover, vocal support for the BDS movement, advocating boycotts, divestments, and sanctions against Israel, was prevalent.
Upon expressing his intention to compose a dissertation on the “systemic biases within the United Nations targeting the state of Israel,” Lewis alleges fellow students accused him of complicity in concealing Israeli war crimes, labelling him a “white supremacist Nazi”.
According to UK Lawyers for Israel (UKLFI), which offered legal aid to Lewis, the student lodged a formal complaint in May 2019. He asserted that the “toxic antisemitic atmosphere” exacerbated his anxiety and mental health issues. Feeling compelled to depart from the university and return to Canada, he demanded a refund of his tuition and associated fees.
In July 2019, a panel tasked with investigating Lewis’s grievances issued an apology on behalf of Soas for the “emotional trauma … endured due to perceived antisemitic discrimination.” It recommended a compensation of £500.
Lewis contested the decision, and in March 2020, an appeals panel determined there was a prima facie case warranting an external reinvestigation of Lewis’s initial complaint, citing inadequacies in the original investigation.
The appeals panel advocated for such an investigation irrespective of whether Soas opted to reach a settlement with Lewis regarding his fees.
As per UKLFI, Lewis received the sum of £15,000 from Soas on December 24. The institution’s incoming director, Adam Habib, slated to assume office in January, is expected to decide whether to proceed with the appeals panel’s recommendation for a fresh investigation.
A university spokesperson expressed deep concern over any allegations of antisemitism within the institution, emphasizing the importance of diversity to Soas’s mission and the desire for all students to feel welcome and supported in their academic pursuits.
While refraining from commenting on individual student cases or appeal outcomes, the spokesperson affirmed the institution’s commitment to thoroughly reviewing the findings of independent panels and taking appropriate action.
Highlighting the offerings of the school’s Centre for Jewish Studies, the spokesperson noted its provision of opportunities to explore Jewish culture and tradition, including undergraduate and master’s level courses in Hebrew.
Jonathan Turner, executive director of UKLFI Charitable Trust, commended the panel’s decisive action, regarding it as a benchmark for best practices to be emulated in addressing instances of antisemitism. He expressed hope that other students encountering antisemitism at universities would be emboldened to raise objections.