Cerys Evans, who has served as President of Lancaster University Students’ Union for the past 19 months has announced that she will resign, citing sexist bullying and harassment from students as the reason why.
In a post on the LUSU website, Cerys said:
“It is with enormous sadness that I announce my resignation as President of Lancaster University Students’ Union. This has not been an easy decision for me, and I want to take the opportunity to explain why I am stepping down and express my gratitude to the people who have supported me throughout my tenure.
Serving as President has been both a huge privilege and a profound challenge. From my first term in office, I was eager to make a difference, to work with students, and to contribute to an environment where every voice is heard. When I ran for re-election, it was with passion, energy, and a commitment to continuing building on what we had started. However, the past nine months have taken a significant toll on me.
In the last 9 months I have faced bullying and harassment from students which has made it increasingly difficult for me to carry out my responsibilities. I have had to endure a culture of disrespect, hostility and criticism that no leader should ever be subjected to. From inappropriate emails to being consistently spoken over in meetings and watching other female colleagues and student leaders receive the same.
Despite all these struggles, I am firmly committed to the value of student leadership and to the importance of ensuring that all student groups – societies, sport teams, academic communities, liberation groups, and colleges – receive the recognition and support they deserve.
I am devastated to be leaving my position before my term is complete, but I am proud of what I have accomplished. I hope that my departure sparks meaningful discussion about leadership culture and encourages a shift toward a more respectful, inclusive, and supportive environment for all.
To those who have worked alongside me and stood by me, thank you so much from the bottom of my heart. And especially to my team: the incredible Ella, Jack, and Harrison, thank you for being the best team anyone could ask for.”
More to follow.
