Sir, During my time as president of the Cambridge Inter-Collegiate Christian Union (CICCU) in 2000, the university authorities temporarily removed the CICCU’s status as an official society, a status which it had enjoyed since 1877 (letters, Nov 28, etc). The reason given was that membership of the CICCU is restricted to Christians.
At that time we presented a document called Extremism and Intolerance on Campus, by what was then called the Committee of Vice-Chancellors and Principals. This document says that religious and political societies should be free to pursue their objectives and to restrict membership along religious and political lines.
I am grateful that the university quickly reinstated the CICCU as an official society soon after we showed them these guidelines. I commend this to the student unions that are currently denying the rights of Christian unions at other universities.
REUBEN MANN
London N14