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TOFF OFF POSSIBLE BOYCOTT OF YORK CLUB BY STUDENT
SEVERE CRITICISM of Toffs nightclub by students has forced the SU to consider an official student boycott of the York nightspot. A steady flow of complaints has reached the SU throughout the year, casting a shadow over Toffs’ “100% Student Friendly” image. At an SU Executive meeting last week concerns were raised that the club’s student nights, which claim to be for students only, have recently been overrun with aggressive non-students. The most serious incident occurred during the autumn term when Matthew Maddocks, then the Langwith JCR ViceChair, was assaulted by four men outside the club. When his friend, Vicki Carver, asked the bouncers at Toffs to phone for help they refused. They even refused the pair access to the payphone. In defence of their doorstaff the club management said afterwards that they had decided after looking at Mr Maddocks that ‘he was not too badly beaten up’. The Langwith JCR made a formal complaint and subsequently boycotted Toffs, with the full support of the SU. However despite lengthy discussions in Exec Committee meetings, the SU never officially boycotted the club. More recently SU officers have received complaints that Toffs are letting in fewer students than other members of the public on their student nights. On Tuesday of Week Three, for example, students were harassed outside the club in the taxi queue by a large group of men who had spent the day at York Races. Aidhean Campbell, Deputy President Services, told Vision: “It’s getting out of hand – they [Toffs] won’t accept student cards as proof of age on student nights but they will let in loads of guys who don’t have Mondex cards.” Problems arise from the fact that Toffs have a sponsorship deal with the SU. But the Aidhean Campbell admits: “Although the money Northern Leisure [Toffs’ parent company] give to the SU is important, it is not worth the price of student security.” An official letter of complaint from the SU Women’s Officer, Becky Wright, records another recent incident. “On Tuesday 6th June in Toffs the disc jockey, trying to ‘entertain’ the students there,
encouraged a girl to kiss an unknown man in front of the assembled dance floor. “While this was in progress, those on the dance floor were asked to shout various names at the girl that included ‘slag’, ‘slapper’ and ‘whore’ etc. After this was finished the disc jockey inquired as to whether there was a ‘girl’ that would be willing to take part in kissing the woman on stage. When the participant refused, she was branded ‘frigid.’” Speaking to the Exec Committee, Becky Wright suggested a women’s protest outside the club and stated, “I will even occupy Toffs!” Sophie Jewitt, next year’s RAG Officer, complained that bouncers even refused her access to the women’s toilets! This was not connected to the smell recently detected on the dance floor at Toffs caused by a build-up of sewage underneath the club. Helen Woolnough, SU President, said of Toffs, “The place smells and quite apart from that makes no effort to be student friendly except in their publicity.” In a rare moment of anger, York’s figurehead added, “They tried to kick me out recently just because I wasn’t wearing any shoes!” However once again, despite extensive discussion within Exec, there has yet to be a motion put into a UGM proposing a boycott. Aidhean Campbell and Helen Woolnough both agreed, “If someone were to put a motion in we’d support it.” Until this happens it seems unlikely that any action against Toffs will be taken on an official basis. Aidhean Campbell told Vision that he was planning a meeting with Toffs management, intending to discuss several issues. These were to include the smell, the cost, access to the toilets, accepted forms of identification on the door and the regular admission of so many non-students on student nights. He explained to Vision: “I’ve always found their management good to work with they’ve always answered the problems we’ve addressed to them. But if they’re not going to answer them any more, I’m happy for there to be a boycott. If the club isn’t willing to look after students on student nights then we shouldn’t be going there.” Toffs nightclub were not available for comment at the time of going to press.
Ben Hulme-Cross
“ I REALLY LIKE
CORGIS
too
“
SU President, Helen Woolnough, larging it in Toffs. But for how many more times?
“ Woodstock probably boasts a better line up than V2000 “
See page 3 for students’ reactions to the rumours that royalty might be here next year
York Student Vision
Photo: Tim Burroughs
See page 9 for an exclusive preview
“ we’re so smart “ ...or so they think. See page 23 for an interview with The Dandy Warhols
23rd June, 2000 Issue 121