University of Glasgow blether thread

Also, I object strongly to 'There's been some cases of sexual assault. Girls, do this to stop yourselves getting attacked'. It's a bit victim-blamey. I understand where they are coming from and it is good advice, I just have a few problems with it. It's difficult to explain.

YES, some people were complaining about the fact that the email wasn't addressed only to women on twitter, but frankly if it had been - if it had said, dear female students, here is a list of stuff you have to do in order not to get raped - it would have been offensive, unhelpful and very victim-blamey.

We all know that it's dangerous to walk home alone in the West End - in the three years that I've been at university I've been told this again and again, all the fuss and concern about the recent attacks feels a bit contrived. Besides, going out of your way to publicize instances of sexual assault without the consent of the survivors is really not okay - this makes coming forward about being assaulted even harder for all of us - knowing that if you report the attack, the whole school will know about it and talk incessantly about what happened to you is really scary and off-putting. I'm not ashamed of the fact that I was sexually assaulted (several years ago / not in Glasgow), but that doesn't mean I give everyone a free pass to talk about it, and at the time I probably would have felt at least very uncomfortable if it would have been all over the news and pretty much everyone I knew had known about it.

Reply 6081

Z-6H820

Original post by ArcadiaHouse

That was around May, in Ashton Lane. :frown:

I never heard what happened afterwards.

I looked it up, apparently someone called Ryan Lafferty went to court at the end of May. I tried to find the outcome but there was nothing, I have no idea if maybe it takes a lot longer to sort things out?

Have they ever thought of those things you see in American TV shows, a sort of lift-share idea? Maybe get a few people with background checks if they're willing to take people home (men and women of course) in return for petrol money from the people getting the lift and discounts in the shop to make it worthwhile. Could be quite easy since loads of people live within 15 minutes of the uni, would be useless for people that live 10 miles away like me but it would be a nice idea all the same...can imagine not many people would want drunk people sitting in their car though.

Reply 6082

ArcadiaHouse

17

Original post by G8D

You say the same things I think but reach different conclusions. You mistake the point of cause (even though your last sentence highlights it.
This stuff shouldn't happen but this isn't an argument. This stuff does happen, that can't be avoided, and I'd argue it will never be avoidable. It's sensible for the targeted victims, women, to be aware of active threats in their immediate area and to perhaps take extra caution until that threat subsides.
I mean the BBC article gives a, necessarily vague, description of the attacker so I don't think the advice is necessarily sweeping in its entirety. Though it is generally good everyday advice as above.
Is true. But it's not detailed enough to determine whether the victims were there themselves or whether they were taken from the street into the enclosed area of the flats.

Exactly.

d123

Also, I object strongly to 'There's been some cases of sexual assault. Girls, do this to stop yourselves getting attacked'. It's a bit victim-blamey. I understand where they are coming from and it is good advice, I just have a few problems with it. It's difficult to explain.

Except they didn't word it like that, did they? It was just a reminder to be extra vigilant at a particularly dangerous time, as G8D pointed out. I think the personal alarms were a great idea and not at all 'victim-blamey'. That's a very ungrateful attitude.

Also, 'victim-blamey' is akin to saying 'a bit rapey' and I'm sure you'd kick off if someone said that too.

andyyy

YES, some people were complaining about the fact that the email wasn't addressed only to women on twitter, but frankly if it had been - if it had said, dear female students, here is a list of stuff you have to do in order not to get raped - it would have been offensive, unhelpful and very victim-blamey.

To you, maybe, but everyone else can see it clearly didn't say that at all and offered perfectly good advice that shows the university cares about the safety of its students. It isn't just ignoring the present danger posed to the female student population (and it would have been perfectly reasonable to address the e-mail to only female students, because even though men get raped this guy seems to only be targeting women). Perhaps walking home in groups isn't practical for everyone but there's nothing wrong with suggesting it. It did say "We recommend that you try to avoid walking home alone."

This is why I no longer identify as a feminist, but a humanist. Feminists look for sexism where it simply doesn't exist and look to be offended by the most trivial things, even when they're done in their best interests.

(edited 10 years ago)

Reply 6083

ArcadiaHouse

17

Original post by G8D

I wasn't actually expecting your support when I seen you had quoted me. I had you painted as typical Tumblr feminazi, not entirely sure why.

Pleasantly surprised.

Would you believe I deleted my Tumblr a week ago? I have seen the light. :daydreaming:

Reply 6084

munchen102

16

Got an unconditional for aeronautical engineering, anyone else doing/applied for the course?

Posted from TSR Mobile

Reply 6085

username156343

15

Original post by d123

Also, I object strongly to 'There's been some cases of sexual assault. Girls, do this to stop yourselves getting attacked'. It's a bit victim-blamey. I understand where they are coming from and it is good advice, I just have a few problems with it. It's difficult to explain.

It's nothing about blame. There is a danger out there, and here is precautions against it. Women shouldn't have to worry about this stuff, but they do have to.

Reply 6086

SacredWolf

Independence Referendum results

2589 votes cast
8 spoiled
967 yes
1614 no

Almost a 2:1 ratio, but with 11% turnout. Did anyone catch the debate? I imagine GUST will upload footage later but I was just curious as to how it went, I meant to go but my nap overran...

Reply 6087

Norton1

18

Realistically the Yes vote is probably over represented, they absolutely mobbed the place.

Reply 6088

Z-6H820

Wish the actual referendum wasn't so far away, I'd love to know the result. And would be quite interested what the SNP do after - I think they promised that if it was a "no" they wouldn't campaign for independence any more? Though it's probably going to take me a year to decide how I'll vote anyway...

Reply 6089

ArcadiaHouse

17

Original post by G8D

11% turnout is pretty good for a uni vote. Especially a vote I haven't even heard of until now.

Same.

Reply 6090

rac1

18

Original post by munchen102

Got an unconditional for aeronautical engineering, anyone else doing/applied for the course?

Posted from TSR Mobile

no, i just got a conditional through for French and Russian though :biggrin:

Reply 6091

mythtakes

8

Most of you will have probably heard about the sexist heckling at a debate held at the GUU but if you haven't: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/education/universityeducation/9907930/Cambridge-University-students-boycott-prestigious-debating-competition-over-sexist-heckling.html

Thoughts? I'm embarrassed that this has happened and it reflects very badly on the university.

Reply 6092

greeneyedgirl

19

Original post by mythtakes

Most of you will have probably heard about the sexist heckling at a debate held at the GUU but if you haven't: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/education/universityeducation/9907930/Cambridge-University-students-boycott-prestigious-debating-competition-over-sexist-heckling.html

Thoughts? I'm embarrassed that this has happened and it reflects very badly on the university.

Yeah it's not good, although I'm not really surprised.

Reply 6093

theorangebox

3

Original post by mythtakes

Most of you will have probably heard about the sexist heckling at a debate held at the GUU but if you haven't: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/education/universityeducation/9907930/Cambridge-University-students-boycott-prestigious-debating-competition-over-sexist-heckling.html

Thoughts? I'm embarrassed that this has happened and it reflects very badly on the university.

Its unfortunate that the GUU has the name it does, because it makes it sound like it's the only Glasgow University Union.

The QMU wouldn't take this crap. I'm aware a lot of the cross-union slander is basically petty bickering, but in this case I think it has merit to raise the point.

Anyone reading this coming/applying to Glasgow should know there are two unions, and QM has a far better history of equality and liberalism than the GUU ever has. Thus why no one's terribly surprised that this came from where it did. It's not fair to paint us all like this, and I'm saddened the newspapers neglect to mention it.

Reply 6094

Z-6H820

Original post by theorangebox

Its unfortunate that the GUU has the name it does, because it makes it sound like it's the only Glasgow University Union.

The QMU wouldn't take this crap. I'm aware a lot of the cross-union slander is basically petty bickering, but in this case I think it has merit to raise the point.

Anyone reading this coming/applying to Glasgow should know there are two unions, and QM has a far better history of equality and liberalism than the GUU ever has. Thus why no one's terribly surprised that this came from where it did. It's not fair to paint us all like this, and I'm saddened the newspapers neglect to mention it.

Irrelevant side point, I used to work with the first ever male member of the QMU. Apparently he got thrown into the Clyde as a "joke" by the GU people :tongue:

Reply 6095

greeneyedgirl

19

I'm gonna be different here and say I actually like the GUU, I like the Beer Bar and I liked the Hive (can't comment on it now as being away this year no idea what HIIVE is like now) but it's always been a bit of a Lads place.

Reply 6096

ArcadiaHouse

17

Original post by mythtakes

Most of you will have probably heard about the sexist heckling at a debate held at the GUU but if you haven't: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/education/universityeducation/9907930/Cambridge-University-students-boycott-prestigious-debating-competition-over-sexist-heckling.html

Thoughts? I'm embarrassed that this has happened and it reflects very badly on the university.

I am also crawling with embarrassment, although I was hitherto unaware of the GUU's sexist reputation. I'm rarely in either union.

Reply 6097

mythtakes

8

Original post by ArcadiaHouse

I am also crawling with embarrassment, although I was hitherto unaware of the GUU's sexist reputation. I'm rarely in either union.

It's known for the whole "lad culture", I guess. I'm not so much embarrassed that this has happened at the GUU, but embarrassed that this has happened at our university, full stop.