Oxford College Boycotts Page Three

In a controversial motion the Junior Common Room (JCR) of St. Edmund Hall, Oxford University's oldest college, has voted to boycottuntil it removes Page 3. 'Teddy Hall', best known for its rugby prowess, did not initially take kindly to the motion.

In a controversial motion the Junior Common Room (JCR) of St. Edmund Hall, Oxford University's oldest college, has voted to boycott The Sun until it removes Page 3.

'Teddy Hall', best known for its rugby prowess, did not initially take kindly to the motion. The debate raged beforehand both around college and on social media sites prompting JCR President Margery Infield to warn members:

"The JCR Chair is constitutionally obliged to preserve an atmosphere of consideration and dignity conducive to debate and reflection at JCR meetings - please bear this in mind tomorrow, and help her to do her job."

The motion's proposer, Madi Maxwell-Libby, told the assembled undergraduates:

"We get that people think this is hysterical or futile. Page 3 was set up in the 1970s - a period which didn't value equality. I don't think anyone disagrees that we're no longer down with the values of page three."

Another member of the JCR pointed out that, "If you want to see boobs, there are plenty of places you can go to see them but they shouldn't be in the most read newspaper in the country."

Despite probing questions that ranged from the career damage being done to glamour models through to the ethics of JCR-mandated censorship the motion to cease the subscription to The Sun passed with only 11 votes against out of the "more than 120" people present.

Ian Cheong, a third year law student, said, "I was disappointed, it was very civil, I was hoping for a royal rumble."

This latest stand is merely another step in a wider movement. The No More Page Three campaign now has over 82,000 signatures on its online petition and has already seen the likes of Manchester University and LSE removing the publication from its subscriptions list and follows hot on the heels of the remarkable success of the OUSU Women's Campaign's Whiteboard event.

Maxwell-Libby later told student newspaper The Oxford Tab:

"If you unpack the associations of Page 3, what it represents, who it serves, the wider implications of topless models in Britain's best-selling newspaper, there really is no question that it is a sexist and out-dated institution.

"We hope that other colleges will pass similar motions in order to add further support to a rapidly growing campaign that has a real chance of succeeding in its aims. Page 3 is not compatible with our current values of equality, and at a time where we've just passed a gay marriage bill, it's actually really awkward that it still exists."

The No More Page 3 Campaign described the outcome as "Great news!!!!" on their facebook page.

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