Noa Dekel: On a Mission for Student Reservists
Noa Dekel takes her responsibilities as chair of the BGU Student Union very seriously. One of her top priorities is easing academic conditions for the thousands of students called up for reserve duty since October 7
Meet Noa Dekel, Chair of the Student Union at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev (BGU). A 29-year-old MBA student, Noa has made Beer-Sheva her home over the past four years, along with her husband Bar and their dog Pistachio.
Community involvement has always been a driving force in her life. Noa joined the Student Union three years ago and has been involved in the “HaReshet” outreach initiative, the “Plastic” environmental group, and the "ProWoman" community on campus, eventually leading the Student Union’s Social Engagement Division, before stepping into her current role.
The last two years since October 7 have been anything but ordinary, and a significant portion of Noa’s time and energy is dedicated to supporting the thousands of BGU students who have been called up for reserve duty. “We have over 2,000 reservists," she says. "Some of them have served more than 300 days since the war began, which is just crazy. Until each and every one of them receives full support in catching up on their academic obligations, we can’t say we’re back to normal.”
Ensuring a balance between student reservists and the broader student community is one approach to addressing the challenge. “Together with the university administration, we developed a framework that incorporates lessons learned from last year. It’s designed to support students who will be absent again this academic year," she says. “And we’re not stopping there. Supporting reservists is at the heart of our mission.”
At present, the framework is still a work in progress. “We’re rolling it out across departments and dealing with the various issues that surface in the field,” Noa explains. “On the one hand, we’re not willing to compromise on what reservists are entitled to. On the other, we recognize that gaps remain in how academic leadership perceives the breadth and complexity of student needs. While it’s clear that all parties genuinely want to go the extra mile for reservists, these discrepancies persist. It’s our responsibility to raise these issues, and be the voice of the students. This is ongoing work that will continue long after the war ends.”
Students who have served long stretches of reserve duty are struggling to return to academic life and catch up on coursework. Dekel acknowledges that this is a nationwide problem, affecting students at other institutions too. “We’re working with the Committee of University Heads (Hebrew acronym: VERA) to push for further changes until we find a real solution,” she explained.
Another concern is the lack of recognition and support for the partners of reservists. “That’s another painful area that needs attention,” Noa says. “Married or not, if a partner doesn’t have children, they essentially receive no recognition. We have hundreds of students on campus who are partners of reservists and have been in constant stress for over a year. It’s time they too received the proper support and safety net they deserve.”
Returning to a normal routine is easier said than done - especially when, at the time of this interview, students are being called up for yet another tour of duty. While the Student Union focuses primarily on supporting students’ academic rights, it is also conscious of the importance of community. As noted by Noa, “We’re constantly thinking about how to strengthen and sustain the student community, how to offer meaningful content on topics relevant to young people, so they can find some mental relief. We truly believe that’s part of returning to normal.”
The resilience of the student community since October 7 has been remarkable, and its mobilization exceptional. BGU students went above and beyond the call of duty, helping communities near the Gaza border, volunteering in Beer-Sheva, launching a multitude of grassroots initiatives that lasted for months, and much more.
Being part of this miracle is what motivates Noa: “I feel a deep sense of purpose every day. If I didn’t, I wouldn’t be doing this. If you had told me a year ago that I’d be in this position today, I wouldn’t have believed you. It takes time to grasp the magnitude of the job and the responsibility that comes with it, especially during such a critical time. Every day brings a new challenge, a new need, another issue to address,” she recounts. “When people ask me, “how are you?’ or ‘how’s it going?’ I usually reply, half-jokingly, ‘never boring’; and it’s true. Every day is a new challenge for the student community. But this is the job, and I accept it with a smile and optimism.”
“I hope normality returns soon; That this generation of students can take off their uniforms, live normal lives, and focus on their studies. Above all, I’m hoping for the safe return of all the hostages and for days of peace.”
Adapted from an article in issue 144 of Aleph-Bet-Gimmel, the University’s Hebrew language magazine. For the original article.
