WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange's Cambridge University talk cancelled

[struggle4progress]

20 November 2012

... He had planned to appear over videolink from the Ecuadorian embassy, where he is seeking asylum to avoid extradition to Sweden where he faces allegations of rape and sexual assault.

The union's Women's Campaign had launched a petition and was planning to protest outside the society, saying Assange's invitation was "an insult to survivors of rape".

Today, in an email to members, the union's secretary, Suyin Chalmin-Pui, said: "We would like to inform you that Mr Assange has cancelled the Q&A scheduled for November 27 due to technical issues with the videolink equipment" ...

Women's officer Susy Langsdale ... said ... "We are disappointed that the union has not had the intellectual honesty to admit the real reasons for this disinvitation."

http://www.standard.co.uk/news/crime/wikileaks-founder-julian-assanges-cambridge-university-talk-cancelled-8335735.html

[LeftishBrit]

1. Just to clarify: this is not really a 'Cambridge University' talk

It is a talk at the Cambridge union, which is a private debating society with links to the university.

It is neither an academic talk, nor connected with the student union in any way.

[sakabatou]

2. Thanks for the clarification

[struggle4progress]

3. Thanks. It's hard to keep all this straight

Cambridge Union is a popular alias for the private Union Society, which is entirely distinct from the Cambridge University Student Union and from Cambridge University