Summary: LSE SU Student Campus Relations Group
Context: In recent years, tensions around political issues have become increasingly prominent on university campuses. At the London School of Economics, discussions on topics such as the Gaza, trans rights and free speech have sparked widescale debate within the student body. These issues often challenge LSEs need to balance between protecting diverse viewpoints through upholding free speech, ensuring a safe environment where various student groups engage with each other, and supporting marginalised communities. The LSE SU Student Campus Relations Group has been established to incorporate student voice into LSEs work to address these tensions. This group offers a platform for student leaders to engage with these critical issues and work towards building collaborative community where LSE students of a wide range of opinions can engage with each other
Aims: The primary aim of the LSE SU Student Campus Relations Group is to foster collaboration among student leaders from various backgrounds and groups, enabling them to contribute to shaping the university’s approach to campus relations. The group is committed to incorporating the student voice into discussions about the principles and operational goals of LSE’s campus relations, ensuring that policies and strategies reflect the diverse perspectives and needs of the student body. Additionally, the group seeks to:
- Provide a space for open and constructive dialogue.
- Strengthen communication between student leaders, university administration, and the wider campus community.
- Promote inclusivity, respect, and understanding across all sectors of campus life.
- Explore solutions to issues regarding free speech and campus relations in the classroom and within departments.
- Address challenges related to free speech, safe spaces, and the protection of marginalised groups.
Terms of Reference:
1. Membership:
Tito Molokwu- LSE SU General Secretary Co chair
Lauren Amdor- LSE SU Activities and Communities Officer Co Chair
Warren Bingham-Roberts- LSE SU Societies Manager Secretary
- Janset An – Executive Editor LSE SU Beaver Newspaper
- Tamar Blumgart – Co President LSE SU Jewish Society
- Isabel Howe – President LSE SU LGBTQ+ Society
- Kaviesh Kinger – President LSE SU Grimshaw Society
- Sam Moses – President LSE SU Athletics’ Union
- Karel Ohana – Co President LSE SU Jewish Society
- Mirabelle Ojoko – President LSE SU Feminist Society
- Ahmad Raza – President LSE SU Palestine Society
- Sumaya Tasnim – President LSE SU Islamic Society
- Camille Tiana – Leader Hands Off LSE
- Ben Weinstein – President LSE SU Israel Society
2. Frequency of Meetings:
The group meets monthly to discuss ongoing campus relations issues and formulate recommendations for the LSE administration. These meetings will be held on the third Tuesday of each month.
3. Responsibilities:
Co-chairs are responsible for gathering student feedback on campus relations topics, ensuring diverse representation in discussions, and reporting back to the LSE Campus Relations Group each month with key insights and recommendations.
4. Feedback Mechanism:
A structured process is in place for collecting student views as the LSE SU will publish all minutes from each meeting and create open polls for students to submit issues for the group to discuss.
Key Topics Discussed:
- Free Speech: The balance between upholding free speech on campus and ensuring that speech does not infringe upon the dignity or safety of students, especially marginalised groups. The group explores policies that protect both open expression and respect for all students.
- Safe Spaces: Discussions around the creation and maintenance of safe spaces on campus, including the tension between providing spaces for vulnerable or marginalised students and promoting open dialogue across diverse groups.
- Collaboration Across Student Groups: Discuss ideas for collaborative initiatives between different student groups at LSE.
- Diversity and Inclusion: Efforts to ensure that LSE remains an inclusive space for students of all backgrounds, addressing issues related to racial, gender, and cultural diversity, as well as supporting the representation of minority student groups in university policies and decision-making.
- Collaboration with University Administration: Strategies for enhancing communication and collaboration between student leaders and university staff to ensure that campus policies reflect student needs and concerns.
- Campus Relations within Departments: Discuss the role of free speech, campus relations and community building within departments and academic environments at LSE to ensure student voice forms
The LSE SU Student Campus Relations Group serves as a vital committee for student leaders to voice concerns, propose solutions, and help shape the future of campus relations at LSE.