Sheldonian Series: Cancel Culture

Panellists
Sunder Katwala, Helen Mountfield KC, Lord Young of Acton, Zoe Williams
Event date
Event time
17:30 - 18:45
Venue
Sheldonian Theatre
Broad Street
Oxford
OX1 3AZ
Event cost
Free
Disabled access?
Yes
Booking required
Required

The Sheldonian Series continues this academic year, centering around issues relating to 'Power'. 

The series will explore 'Cancel Culture' in Michaelmas term (Tuesday 21 October 2025), ‘Activism’ in Hilary term (Tuesday 4 February 2026) and the theme of ‘Satire’ in Trinity term (20 May 2026).  

Join the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Oxford on Tuesday 21 October to hear from panellists discussing 'Cancel Culture': is cancellation a threat to free expression, or a necessary means of accountability?

This event is open to all and includes an audience Q&A.  

Panellists:

  • Sunder Katwala – Director of the British Future think tank
  • Helen Mountfield KC – Trustee for Index on Censorship, barrister, and Principal of Mansfield College
  • Lord Young of Acton – General Secretary of the Free Speech Union and Conservative peer
  • Zoe Williams – Journalist, columnist and author at The Guardian

The Vice-Chancellor will open and close the event, and the discussion will be moderated by David Isaac, Provost of Worcester College.

The series aims to promote freedom of speech and inclusive inquiry within the collegiate University.