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Disbanded LSE men’s rugby club had history of racism and misogyny Disbanded LSE men’s rugby club had history of racism and misogyny
(about 4 hours later)
The men’s rugby club at the London School of Economics, disbanded this week over a homophobic and misogynistic leaflet distributed to prospective members, has previously been involved in actions including “blacking up” and playing Nazi-themed drinking games, according to the university’s students union. The men’s rugby club at the London School of Economics, disbanded this week over a homophobic and misogynistic leaflet distributed to prospective members, had previously been involved in actions including “blacking up” and playing Nazi-themed drinking games, according to the university’s students’ union.
In an email to members to further explain Tuesday’s decision to disband the men’s club for an academic year, the LSE student union president, Nona Buckley-Irvine, said an investigation had uncovered “a negative culture within the club that has existed for years”. In an email to members to further explain Tuesday’s decision to disband the men’s club for an academic year, the LSE students’ union president, Nona Buckley-Irvine, said an investigation had uncovered “a negative culture within the club that has existed for years”.
Wow wow wow. This is unbelievable. Email from LSE: list of what else the men's rugby club got up to over the years pic.twitter.com/HPFq789VsbWow wow wow. This is unbelievable. Email from LSE: list of what else the men's rugby club got up to over the years pic.twitter.com/HPFq789Vsb
This included strippers appearing at year-end club dinners, and candidates for officer positions in the club being asked about their sexuality, she wrote.This included strippers appearing at year-end club dinners, and candidates for officer positions in the club being asked about their sexuality, she wrote.
Buckley-Irvine also outlined previous disciplinary concerns about the club, including that club members had “blacked up” and dressed as Guantánamo Bay prisoners before imitating Islamic prayers while Muslim students left Friday worship. Buckley-Irvine also outlined previous disciplinary concerns about the club, including that members had “blacked up” and dressed as Guantánamo Bay prisoners before imitating Islamic prayers while Muslim students left Friday worship.
The men’s club had also previously “been involved in Nazi-themed drinking games on tour which led to a Jewish student’s nose being broken”, caused significant damage to LSE property, run naked through the university and urinated on buildings, the email said.The men’s club had also previously “been involved in Nazi-themed drinking games on tour which led to a Jewish student’s nose being broken”, caused significant damage to LSE property, run naked through the university and urinated on buildings, the email said.
She wrote: “We have tried to rehabilitate the club and apply the appropriate sanctions throughout the years, but it simply hasn’t worked. In this case, no-one in the [rugby club] committee was willing to take individual responsibility for publication or distribution of the leaflet. The club was blamed as a whole for having contributed and edited the document. A negative club culture was acknowledged by the committee.” She wrote: “We have tried to rehabilitate the club and apply the appropriate sanctions throughout the years, but it simply hasn’t worked. In this case, no one in the [rugby club] committee was willing to take individual responsibility for publication or distribution of the leaflet. The club was blamed as a whole for having contributed and edited the document. A negative club culture was acknowledged by the committee.”
Given this, Buckley-Irvine said, the students union had decided to “have a clean break from these negative club cultures”, and disband the club for the year. She added: “This is not intended as a negative, punitive measure. It is intended as an opportunity for LSE men’s rugby club to have a chance to restart in the following year and participate in a positive sporting environment.” Given this, Buckley-Irvine said, the students’ union had decided to “have a clean break from these negative club cultures”, and disband the club for the year. She added: “This is not intended as a negative, punitive measure. It is intended as an opportunity for LSE men’s rugby club to have a chance to restart in the following year and participate in a positive sporting environment.”
Money earmarked for the club would instead be spent on diversity campaigns, she added, and the union would try to find alternative clubs for students seeking to play rugby.Money earmarked for the club would instead be spent on diversity campaigns, she added, and the union would try to find alternative clubs for students seeking to play rugby.
The email said: “It has been a difficult decision to not provide the opportunity for students to play competitive rugby at LSE, and it saddens me greatly that some will not be able to. But we cannot tolerate repeated and sustained examples of activities that have no place in our community. We have given so many second chances to the club, and it is now time to say that enough is enough. It is time to stop this cycle of discriminatory behaviour.”The email said: “It has been a difficult decision to not provide the opportunity for students to play competitive rugby at LSE, and it saddens me greatly that some will not be able to. But we cannot tolerate repeated and sustained examples of activities that have no place in our community. We have given so many second chances to the club, and it is now time to say that enough is enough. It is time to stop this cycle of discriminatory behaviour.”
The school administration itself was fully supportive of the student union’s actions, she added. The school administration was fully supportive of the union’s actions, she added.
The decision to disband the club followed revelations about a flyer handed out at the freshers’ fair a week ago, which described women as “mingers”, “trollops” and “slags”.The decision to disband the club followed revelations about a flyer handed out at the freshers’ fair a week ago, which described women as “mingers”, “trollops” and “slags”.
The leaflet also said the club did not tolerate “outright homosexual debauchery” in its initiations and encouraged would-be members to do their best to “pull a sloppy bird”. It called women who play sport as “beast-like women who play sport just so they can come out with us on Wednesdays” and made a number of disparaging remarks about “poly” students.The leaflet also said the club did not tolerate “outright homosexual debauchery” in its initiations and encouraged would-be members to do their best to “pull a sloppy bird”. It called women who play sport as “beast-like women who play sport just so they can come out with us on Wednesdays” and made a number of disparaging remarks about “poly” students.
While the club formally apologised, no individual members took responsibility for the leaflet.While the club formally apologised, no individual members took responsibility for the leaflet.