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University to Take Action Against UniLAD - But is It Enough?

Posted: 3/02/2012 10:17

Like most adult humans capable of basic thought and feeling, I too heard about the uniLAD controversy and was appalled. I was so appalled I called up Plymouth University, harbourer of Jamie Street, 'CEO and TechLad' of the rape-trivialising web-cesspit, to ask what exactly they would be doing about the cretin. I was disappointed to receive a very half hearted answer:

"While this website has no affiliation to Plymouth University - any student activity, extracurricular or otherwise, which brings the university into disrepute is a disciplinary matter and we will be taking appropriate action."

Unless somewhere buried amongst Plymouth University's constitution is the right to discipline certain deplorable students with a water cannon, the only just measure to be taken here is expulsion. The site, led by Partridge and five other troglodytes of various institutions, caused a furore this week when it released an article condoning rape, providing the rapist shouted "surprise". In the same article it stated that contrary to the rest of the nation's belief, the 15% rape report rate could be celebrated as 'good odds' whilst the rest of the site relished in degrading, sexually objectifying vocabulary, with women regularly described as "sluts" and "gash".

Aside from the rape jokes, a rookie mistake from the team who clearly missed some of their Chauvinism-101 lectures, the tone of the website is nothing new. It is simply insipid misogyny packaged up as comedy. It's what magazines like Nuts and Zoo are founded upon. However it's the university context of this scenario that is most alarming. With UniLAD receiving 8,000 hits a day and boasting 70,000 facebook fans, it is becoming increasingly impossible to ignore the permeation of 'lad culture', to flippantly dismiss it as 'builder chat' or something equally redundant.

The readers and writers of uniLAD are young graduates, who theoretically speaking could go on to be our nation's lawyers, doctors, journalists and politicians. What are the ramifications of this kind of culture being allowed to flourish at such a critical point in the development of the next generation? But hey, luckily, nowadays a degree is completely worthless any way so thank fuck for that.

Whilst I hope that Plymouth University do expel the likes of Jamie Street I have a sinking feeling this may not be the case. It makes me wonder, had the site employed a racist rhetoric rather than a sexist one (although I did spot a little bit of homophobia in one article - wouldn't want you to think the writers weren't liberal with their bigotry) would we have heard by now that Plymouth had terminated their relationship with Street.

It begs the question - is sexism seen as more palatable than discrimination on grounds of race or sexuality? Why, when a woman is heckled on the grounds of her biology, do we not perceive it (and prosecute it) as a hate crime as we would someone heckled for the colour of their skin? Perhaps because if we see it like that, we'll realise that simply saying sorry just isn't good enough.

CORRECTION: We apologise for previously describing Street as "creator". We have now amended the description to "CEO".
 

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Like most adult humans capable of basic thought and feeling, I too heard about the uniLAD controversy and was appalled. I was so appalled I called up Plymouth University, harbourer of Jamie Street, 'C...
Like most adult humans capable of basic thought and feeling, I too heard about the uniLAD controversy and was appalled. I was so appalled I called up Plymouth University, harbourer of Jamie Street, 'C...
 
 
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11:48 PM on 02/10/2012
You think you know Jamie? Myself and Rhys have known him for years! Your discription of his situation is disgusting and false!
11:36 PM on 02/10/2012
frf
10:55 PM on 02/04/2012
Before you start causing Street of this mess I would very much like you to prove your source of evidence which suggests Jamie is the editor of this vile content. Jamie Street is a web designer, he merely carried out the task of building a website and maintaining it. He contributed no content at all to the website, so check your facts before publishing misleading content.
10:25 AM on 02/06/2012
Hi Rhys!

Thanks for your comment. The official title as 'CEO and TechLAD' has now been uploaded. There was some confusion using Google Cache as the site had been removed. However, since the publication of the article I have been in touch with Street and I stand by this article 100%. Street is hiding behind his 'web designer' role, and in fact having been in touch with another member of UniLAD, there is a general 'washing-of-hands' attitude within the site. I suppose camaraderie isn't something LADS understand.

Street had a far greater role than he is letting on, to save his skin. A mere web designer would not seek topless models (essentially a Marketing and Development task) for the site. Anyone marketing a site containing rape jokes, is just as bad as the person writing the rape jokes. Besides, as I said, its not just the rape jokes. Its the horrific sexism of the site. The articles about having sex with underage girls for example (oh no hang on, that is rape), they suck too.

If Street wants to conveniently disassociate himself with the magazine he shouldn't tell the internet he 'run[s] a website called UniLAD'. (Source: http://www.frontarmy.com/frontforum/topic/looking-for-models-uniladcom). Hope that clears everything up!

C