A university students’ union’s decision to vote down proposals to combat antisemitism on campus has been criticised by Jewish groups.

Emma Jacobs, a student a Leeds University who tabled the motion calling for the union to adopt ideas to discourage discrimination against Jewish students, said she had felt intimidated during the debate and vote.

On Monday evening, five of the 15 student panel members of Leeds University Union (LUU) voted against the motion. The union’s rules dictate that 75% of the student panel have to vote yes or no for an idea to pass or fail. If this does not happen, it can proceed to a campus-wide referendum.

Jacobs had asked members to adopt the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) working definition of antisemitism and implement a multifaceted approach to combat discrimination. She also asked the union to ensure that sabbatical officers had training on issues affecting Jewish students, for at least one Holocaust Memorial Day event to be held each year, and for awareness and educational events to be held around issues of antisemitism.

In the motion, Jacobs explained: “Across the UK, there has been an increase in antisemitism on campuses, including swastikas, ‘Hitler was right’ stickers, and issues of antisemitism within student societies.

“As a campus with one of the largest Jewish student populations in the UK, LUU must ensure that Jewish students can feel safe on campus and are free to fully express their Jewish identities without fear.”

In a statement, the union said the panel voted on student-proposed ideas about how to improve their organisation.

“At the forum, every student agreed antisemitism was unacceptable,” it said. “However, there was debate both for and against adopting all of the examples listed with the IHRA definition.”

After the vote, Jacobs said she had felt intimidated by other students in the room during the debate.

“When I put forward this motion to Leeds University Union vote, I didn’t expect to spend over an hour being sniggered at when I said I wouldn’t withdraw a motion to combat antisemitism,” she said on Twitter. “I’m disappointed. It’s exhausting being a Jewish student and I wouldn’t wish this on any other group.

“I barely slept last night. I cannot stop thinking of the injustice of how this motion was approached by the vast crowd who turned up to intimidate me [attempting] to get me to withdraw. Why’s the Jewish community the only one who aren’t allowed to define our own oppression?”

The Leeds Jewish Society (JSoc) said it was “incredibly disappointed” by the union’s decision.

“This means, in theory, that LUU could be giving money to students to run a campaign against combating antisemitism,” it said in a statement. “We will not cower. Jewish students have a right to feel safe on campus.”

The Labour MP for Leeds North East, Fabian Hamilton, said he was “extremely concerned” at the outcome.

“Jewish students should be supported and made to feel safe, not only on the university campus, but across the city and throughout our country.”

A university spokesperson said the disagreement was about the formal definition of antisemitism.

“The university is committed to promoting and positively encouraging free debate – including the definition of antisemitism – and we are confident that we have a robust and consistent policy on freedom of expression.”