Adil Waraich has been suspended since August, when he and other students made a video protesting De Montfort University’s decision to honour the prime minister.
Jason Senior Redpix / Jason Senior
The student president of an English university has been suspended from his position after organising a protest against David Cameron's record on equality.
Adil Waraich, the elected student leader at De Montfort University in Leicester, started a campaign with other students over an award given to the prime minister by his university.
But soon afterwards a letter was handed to him by the union's trustees that told him he was suspended and banned from entering the campus. He was told the suspension was not just over the protest, but also previous concerns raised by the university about his attendance at senior management meetings and two prank videos uploaded privately online.
More than two months later, he remains suspended as he awaits the outcome of an investigation by the student union.
Wairich told BuzzFeed News he had every right to protest without being criticised by the university or the trustees who oversee the student union's work.
"I have a right to freedom of speech," he said, "and it's my job to stand up and speak on behalf of students, whether the university management like what I have to say or otherwise."
De Montfort University
In August this year, David Cameron was awarded a "Companionship" from the university, its highest honour. Controversially for some students, the award was given to him for overseeing the passage of the Same Sex Marriage Act in 2013.
According to a university press release, other people to have been presented with the award include Nelson Mandela.
The ceremony, held in August 2015, was a top-secret occasion, with students taken to London for the event.
"Before my arrival the only information I had was that an honorary graduation ceremony was to take place in 10 Downing Street," said Grace Elliot, a second-year sociology student at De Montfort, who attended as the women's officer of the LGBT+ society.
"When we found out who was to receive the award and why I was shocked to say the least."
While she acknowledges Cameron played "some role" in passing same-sex marriage legislation, Elliott argued that it was "hardly significant".
"David Cameron did not protest, petition, or campaign – he merely advocated a basic right. In my opinion, that doesn't deserve an award."
