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EXEPOSÉ THE UNIVERSITY OF EXETER’S INDEPENDENT STUDENT NEWSPAPER SINCE 1987
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13 October 2014 • Issue 628 • Twitter: @Exepose • www.facebook.com/Exepose • Free
Battle of the balls: SSB’s back Hannah Butler News Editor
#NeverOK
Photo Credit: Edwin Yeung
Emily Leahy, News Editor and Gemma Joyce, Editor EXETER students have come together in their hundreds to join the newly launched #NeverOK campaign raising awareness of the prevalence of sexual harassment in student life. One of the Guild’s biggest campaigns of the year, #NeverOK is fronted by Guild President Rachael Gillies and VP Welfare & Diversity Kate Hawkins. Since its launch, 5,812 people have visited the page on the Guild’s website, 525 pledges have been submitted and the promotional
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video has been viewed 4,928 times. The movement follows a recent NUS survey, the results of which suggested that one in four students nationally had experienced “unwelcome sexual advances” which included “inappropriate touching and groping.” The survey additionally uncovered that 60 per cent of respondents were “not aware of any codes of conduct implemented by their university or students unions that prohibit or tackle sexual comments, unwelcome sexual advances, group intimidation and verbal harassment.” Gillies said: “Sexual harassment is not just gender-based; it doesn’t always
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involve alcohol, and it doesn’t only take place on nights out. Our students say they have these kind of experiences even when they are walking down the street. It’s never ok regardless of gender, where it is and when it is.” She continued: “While the issue of sexual harassment is a national one, it is important to us to create a safe and secure environment for Exeter students. Anecdotal evidence indicates that sexual harassment is something that many students experience on a regular basis. We hope that by engaging students in the conversation about sexual harassment, we can instigate a cultural shift among young people.”
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Highlighting the survey results, NUS President Toni Pearce commented: “I say to universities everywhere the passing the buck approach of ‘not my campus’ is now completely unacceptable. They must acknowledge the problems and join us in confronting them.” She has since tweeted about Exeter Students’ Guild’s #NeverOK campaign, describing it as “Amazing”. Gathering data on incidents of sexual harassment is, by nature, very dif�icult. Many incidents are thought to go unreported simply because the victim feels too uncomfortable to talk about it or because
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AFTER a year’s absence, versions of the banned Safer Sex Ball (SSB) will return to Exeter this December in the form of two private events. Created by The Enchanted Group – the company behind Exeter’s Enchanted Garden Ball – the �irst of the two events is set to take place on Sunday 7 December at an as yet secret location, while another function modelled on SSB is to be held at Westpoint Arena on Wednesday 10 December. Facebook events for both the Enchanted Group and Westpoint Arena balls have proven popular, with 21,000 and 14,000 ‘attendees’ respectively, at the time of going to print. The last SSB, which was held at the Great Hall and organised by RAG with the help of the Students’ Guild, had a controversial tribal theme. Neither of the new events look set to replicate SSB’s traditional premise and themes exactly, with the Enchanted Group encouraging revellers to dress for a Rio Carnival atmosphere, and the Westpoint Arena event opting for a winter wonderland theme. With Jameela Jamil, Jaguar Skills, Jamie Liang, the Candy Kittens and members of the Made in Chelsea cast con�irmed to entertain ball-goers at the Westpoint Arena event, details of the Enchanted Group ball have yet to be announced.
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