A newsletter, produced daily during freshers’ week by Glasgow University Union (GUU), has caused consternation and outrage across campus because of its sexually explicit and vulgar content. Eamonn Coyle investigates

“Filth…a GUU Production” featured a points system for pulling various members of the board, with extra marks awarded to those able to successfully seduce any fresher aged 16 or under. It contained regular updates on the sexual activities of students, with comments such as “Gavin shagged Fresher Pauline in the Beer Bar ladies toilets… come on guys… try a more exciting location!” One edition of the letter also contained the highly controversial slogan: “No means yes, and yes means harder!”

SRC President, Ali Ritchie, expressed concern at the suitability of the material and the adverse message it might present to students. She claimed that some of the comments gave clear expression to the possibility of date rape. “No in fact means no. Anyone who treats ‘no’ as ‘yes’ in this situation is a date rapist. Although the GUU may well have meant such comments in jest, far too many women and men know that date rape is nothing to joke about. I am hugely disappointed that the GUU has been so negligent in their duty of care towards students.”

Similar sentiments were expressed by University Chaplin, Stuart McCoy, who argued that the GUU’s publication did not seem to reflect the interests and ambitions of the majority of students at Glasgow, while also claiming that such material could do severe damage to the reputation of the GUU, the university and in particular the students, one of whom was branded “the most awful slut of a fresher” in Saturday’s edition of the newsletter.

“I think this material is representative of a very adolescent, laddish culture which I wouldn’t expect to find anywhere else in the university,” said the chaplain. “Some of the content is simply very daft but there are aspects of it that are just downright offensive and sexist. For example, the branding of certain individuals in very disparaging ways I believe could cause great offence to these people, their friends and their families and I would be interested to know what form of consent they gave to their names being used in this way. I think the authors of this material can count themselves very lucky if charges are not brought against them by the police.”

However, the SRC’s Welfare Officer, Aidan Warner, refused to unconditionally condemn the publication, dismissing it as the kind of thing that’s passed around the back of secondary school classrooms. “I think this is pretty typical of the GUU to be honest and if they wish to promote their establishment as a cheap and sleazy nightspot, then that’s up to them,” he said. “Personally though, I doubt this has had a seriously detrimental effect on the students but I would say that greater consideration could have been taken regarding the adverse impact it may have had on some people.”

Tom Berry, Glasgow University Union’s Honorary Secretary, has responded to these attacks by claiming that the newsletter was produced and distributed in good humour. He also laughed off Ali Richie’s claim that the “No means yes…” remark incited date rape. Berry argued: “To suggest this is ridiculous. I think people should remember that we’ve all made it to university and therefore we all have some form of intelligence and a good idea of how to react. The same goes for the points system – I never expected anyone to try to take advantage of a 16 year old fresher. Of course, we deeply apologise to anyone who was offended by this material, but this was in no way our intention.”

Regarding the use of freshers’ names, Berry remarked: “We got full consent from all freshers whose names were used in the newsletter and even had some of them coming to us to ask if they could be included.” However, the Honorary Secretary could not confirm that the student branded a slut was fully aware of the context in which her name was being used. “I’m not sure that she was aware of the exact terms used but I know that she mentioned something along these lines herself.”

Commenting on the content of the newsletters, one first year student, who wished to remain anonymous, said “it is a bit distasteful, maybe it is kind of meant to be harmless but its not really. It’d make you not want to go to the union.” Aly Miller, an 18 year old biological science student, stated “I’m not really fussed to be honest. I can see how some people would find it offensive but I wouldn’t really read them anyway cause I couldn’t be bothered.”