e Students’ Union condemns LSE cutting ties with Stonewall

Jack Beeching Beaver Editor

According to LSESU’s Community and Welfare O cer, Anaëlle oreau, “the SU has not been involved in any discussions regarding Stonewall prior to LSE’s decision.

“Now that the decision has been taken, LSE has told the sabbatical team to not inform students of their decision.

LSE’s withdrawal comes a er UCL became the rst UK university to cut ties with Stonewall in December 2021, citing threats to academic freedom in discussions of sex and gender. Since then, the Universities of Edinburgh and Glasgow have refused to submit applications to Stonewall’s 2022 Workplace Equality Index.

In a statement issued to e Beaver, LSE said that, “Following discussion across the School community, and careful consideration of the range of perspectives shared, LSE has taken the decision to not renew our institutional membership with Stonewall.

“ is decision does not detract from LSE’s unwavering commitment to LGBTQ+ sta and students and we will continue to build on our existing work to create an inclusive environment where every individual can thrive.

A Stonewall spokesperson told e Beaver, “As with all membership programmes, organisations come and go depending on what’s best for their inclusion journey at the time. We’re proud of our Diversity Champions programme which supports workplaces to create LGBTQ+ inclusive environments where all sta can thrive.”

LSE to change term names in the next academic year

Anya Saund Staff Writer

Illustrated by Mithalina Taib

At the start of this year LSE made the decision to change the term names and periods between sessions in order to make them more comprehensible, accessible and universally understood. ese changes will take place from the 23/24 academic year in order to amend systems and communications.

e LSE has stated that the academic session names Michaelmas Term, Lent Term and Summer Term will be amended to Autumn Term, Winter Term and Spring Term, respectively. Additionally, Christmas break has been changed to Winter break, while Easter Break has been renamed to Spring Break. is decision was made by the School Management Committee following consultations and discussions which took place last term.

An LSE spokesperson told e Beaver that these changes were made to “use more accessible and widely recognised terminology, and better re ect the international nature of our community and our broader global engagement.”