Epigram issue 267

page 29 Snapshot Bristol

Big Deal interview page 47

page 45 The Walking Dead returns

The

Issue 267 Monday 11th November 2013 www.epigram.org.uk University of BristolIndependent Independent Student Newspaper University of Bristol Student Newspaper

Markéta Brabcová

UBU bans ‘Blurred Lines’ Tackling rape culture: Bristol joins other university unions across the UK in banning Robin Thicke’s #1 hit ‘Blurred Lines’ Sarah Newey News Reporter Robin Thicke’s ‘Blurred Lines’ and similar songs were banned from being played in Bristol’s Student’s Union, at the inaugural Student Council, held on Tuesday 29th October. The Council fully passed three out of the four motions proposed, which included tackling rape culture, supporting the lecturers strike, greater promotion of the ‘Just Ask Movement’ and a new quiet room in the student union. The first motion relating to rape culture at the university banned songs such as Blurred Lines from being played in the union, only allowing instrumental versions. The Union will also run more campaigns to debunk myths surrounding rape and disaffiliate

societies advocating rape apology. However, only three out the four resolves were passed. After a heated discussion, the clause suggesting rape apologists such as George Galloway should not be given a platform to speak at the union was rejected by 74 to 53 votes. Representatives felt that it preventing individuals from voicing their opinions and the discussion of ideas - no matter how controversial they are undermined the purpose of university. Alice Philips, who proposed the motion, said ‘The motion was so important because in our society there are some really worrying misconceptions about rape, for example 26% of people asked by Amnesty believed that if a woman was wearing revealing clothing she was partially or totally responsible for being raped.

‘Whilst rape culture is a wide societal problem it’s important that as a body of students we do whatever we can to combat it. The Union, mandated by students, can now take a strong stance on rape culture in our community’. The second motion, proposed by Taiba Bajar, asking the Union to engage in greater promotion of the Just Ask Movement, was far less controversial and easily passed. As a result, the union will encourage departments and use posters to advise students to contact the ‘Just Ask’ service because students are not aware of services offered by the union. The third motion, advocating that the Student Union should officially support the lecturers strike, was vigorously debated.

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Lindsey Russell: Living the dream University of Bristol graduate, Lindsey Russell, shattered the odds in July when she beat 20,000 applicants for the position of the 36th Blue Peter presenter – the first to be chosen by the public. Now over a month into the role Russell tells Epigram how she’s getting on.