'Racist, religiously insensitive and demeaning': LSE athletes' Christmas party
By Hilary Aked - December 11, 2009
The Athletics Union (AU) of the London School of Economics (LSE) has condemned an incident in which some members of the society dressed up as Guantanamo Bay inmates and drunkenly yelled 'Oh Allah' outside the college bar.
At least a dozen students attending the December 4th 'Carol', the annual fancy-dress Christmas party for all sports teams, chose to wear costumes deemed "racist, religiously insensitive and demeaning". These included students who painted their faces brown and wore orange jump suits in imitation of Guantanamo Bay inmates, and others who claimed to be dressed as 'Somalian pirates'.
After complaints from students, the AU President Charlie Glyn wrote a joint statement with Student Union General Secretary Aled Dilwyn Fisher in The Beaver, LSE's student newspaper, which condemned the actions "of a minority of students" as "racist, religiously insensitive and demeaning".
They wrote: "This behaviour is completely at odds with the anti-racist principles of the Students' Union and the internationalist, diverse and tolerant majority of the student body".
They went on to state that the AU and Students' Union (SU) were "working together to put in strict regulations and that any club or society that chooses to contravene these will be held accountable".
London Student understands that the AU has a long history of causing controversy at its social events, and this year's 'Carol' is thought to be the first time in several year's they have been allowed to drink on LSE's campus. Students paid £10 for a ticket and many started drinking at 11am.
LSE SU Treasurer George Wetz said that the society's budget had not been docked, but it has been given a warning. He added that in future "All costumes will have to be checked and approved beforehand which is just a lot more trouble for everyone".
The letter also said that the AU Executive Committee "sent a clear message to all Club Captains before the event that costumes worn must fit within the Student Unions' Equal Opportunities policy." But London Student was told by one LSE student that an email had been sent around at least one team stating that "it is our duty to offend".
LSE student Samer Araabi, in a comment piece in The Beaver, called what he had seen "unquestionably one of the most insulting, offensive, and downright frightening acts of racism I have ever witnessed". He further stated that such actions meant he did not "feel safe on my own campus", as an Arab Muslim student.
According to Glyn and Fisher's letter, the sports teams in question had "no malicious or racist intent" but had acted in an "ill thought out and immature" way.
Emma Kelly, a 1st year International History student, commented: "In terms of punishment I think they got away lightly. Personally I think they should have their budgets cut, they get a lot of money each year (especially when compared to societies like the LGBT who get very little in comparison).
"If my understanding of the budget is correct the AU get about £70,000, which is about £22 per member whereas the LGBT society get around £500, which is about £4 a member. I think that this is the only way to make them actually pay attention and stop such activities. LSE is one of the most international and diverse universities in the country and its really shocking that people think that such behaviour is acceptable. Frankly, it makes me feel embarrassed and offended."
Glyn also publicly apologised on behalf of the AU in front of students at yesterday's Union General Meeting.
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