The University of Huddersfield is to consult with the student union over concerns surrounding the Duke of York’s role as Chancellor at the institution.
The university’s student union has called on Prince Andrew to resign from the honorary role, saying he is “‘not the sort of role model students should have”.
In response, the University of Huddersfield has released a statement, saying: “We are aware of the Students’ Union meeting last night and the motion it passed regarding the Chancellor. We listen to our students’ views and concerns and we will now be consulting with them over the coming weeks.”
Student Tristan Smith is leading the campaign calling on the 59-year-old Prince to step down.
He told the BBC’s Victoria Derbyshire programme: “I think that the behaviour that we’ve seen, disregarding the allegations even, the fact that we know he continued the friendship with Jeffrey Epstein after the conviction, and even stayed at his house of his own admission – he admitted to that in the interview – I don’t think that’s very good conduct really, I don’t think that should be representative of us.
“I think he needs to have taken a stand to show some integrity, and I haven’t seen that yet. It’s not the sort of role model I think students should have, it’s not the sort of person I think should be in that position, essentially of authority and of recognition and respect.
“It seems very unreasonable I think that we would value having students going out into the world with integrity, with morals, with upstanding good reputations, and then that not being reflected in our chancellor’s behaviour and his statements, which I found to be very upsetting, and which I did not see much accountability and much sympathy for the victims, regardless of what may or may not have happened.”
