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Exeposé
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Monday 5 December 2011 • Issue 587 • www.exepose.com • Twitter: @Exepose
Media storm over SSB mag Hannah Brewer Senior Reporter
THE UNIVERSITY OF EXETER has been criticised by national press for allowing a joke about sexual violence to be published in the Safer Sex Ball promotional magazine. The joke, which estimated the number of calories which could be burnt taking a girl’s clothes off without her consent, sparked media controversy following its allusions to sexual violence.
“It is unfortunate that such a fantastic charitable event has been marred by a misguided and distasteful comment” Nick Davis, Guild President
The original magazine was issued on Monday 21 November and was met with complaints. After being pulled immediately, a second edition was printed and distributed by Friday 25, leaving out the offending page. A public apology was made by the Students’ Guild. Nick Davis, Guild President told Exeposé: “It is unfortunate that such a fantastic charitable event has been marred by a misguided and distasteful comment. “I have been involved with RAG throughout my time at the University of Exeter and I am confident that there was no malice intended with the comment, but we need to be clear that comments like this have no place in the Students’ Guild or in wider society.” The organisers of the event, charitable organisation RAG, also issued a statement. A spokesperson for RAG said: “We would like to apologise unreservedly for the publication of the com-
Photo: Josh Irwandi
Staff go on strike Joe Johnston News Editor
ment. We have done so publicly, have retracted, destroyed and reprinted all the magazines, and made personal apologies to the few people who made formal complaints. “Obviously, we regret that this situation has occurred, and also regret that it has found its way into the national press, particularly as we attempted to handle the situation discretely and appropriately in order to prevent any disrepute for the University. “There was a proofing team which included some RAG committee members and Guild staff. As a result of this error, we are currently reviewing our proof reading methods to ensure nothing like this happens again.” Students have previously raised concerns that the SSB promotes promiscuity, but organisers have insisted that it raises the importance of safe sex, and continues to be the largest World Aids Day event in the UK. This year, organisers say the annual fundraising is well on its way to breaking the £100,000 mark.
“We would like to apologise unreservedly for the publication of the comment” RAG spokesperson
A third year Law student commented: “I think the whole thing has been blown totally out of proportion. RAG cannot seriously be accused of condoning sexual violence. It was obviously meant as a joke – it even included the word ‘joke’ in it!” Student Trustee, George Paige, thinks lessons will be learnt: “It is a very unfortunate situation, which nevertheless has highlighted that a line must be drawn when individuals are offended and the University’s reputation is implicated.”
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Exeter’s Centurion See page 3 for full story
University staff participated in day of industrial action on Wednesday 30 November over a dispute with the Government’s proposed public sector pensions reforms. The strike was limited to members of the University and College Union (UCU) which represents academic staff and senior administrative staff. Pensions at the University will be left unaffected by the Government’s proposals because Exeter staff are not members of the Teachers’ Pension Scheme or Local Government Pension Scheme. Despite this, the UCU called upon its members to strike in support of their colleagues employed at pre-92 universities who are members of a public sector pension scheme. Stephen Cooper, Director of Human Resources, said: “At this stage we are still trying to gather information about the number of staff who actually took part in the action – best estimates put the number in the ranges of 25-40. “To date, I have only heard of three classes that had to be cancelled as a result of the action.” Only two picketing positions were allotted by the University, with a maximum of six people at each, with one on Stocker Road and the other on Queen’s Drive. Dr. Bryce Lease, Lecturer in Drama, who went on strike but did not participate in the picket line due to these restrictions, said: “I decided to strike to show solidarity with union members, to show my more general unease with the Conservative Government’s austerity measures and recent changes to the university system [to be] more businessoriented.” Continued on page 2