Universities are meant to be spaces for open debate, where students engage with a diverse range of political and social issues. At the same time, student politics is expected to reflect the priorities of the whole student body. In practice, however, there is an observable gap at many universities between what students say matter most to them – the quality of teaching, housing and cost of living – and what the elected officials have continued to prioritise. Despite this, the Israel-Palestine conflict has taken a disproportionately prominent role within student politics, often overshadowing basic student life issues.

For most students, these day-to-day concerns are not abstract questions but immediate realities that shape their university experience. Instead, the Students’ Union at LSE has passed four BDS and other related resolutions in the past year. Meanwhile, issues surrounding the cost of living, quality of education, student safety and protecting free speech have been given little attention in contrast.

To take just one example, LSE’s recent Students’ Union sabbatical officer........

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