Editorial: 6/10/08

Student Direct was shocked by a controversial Amnesty report published last week that exposed disturbing views held by university students in Northern Ireland. Almost half believed that a woman’s flirting constitutes partial, if not total, responsibility for her rape, while a horrifying third of all students believe that revealing clothing is a factor in provoking rape. If this is true, the Bop themes don’t help as it would be tricky to dress as a ‘Screw Me Secretary’ in an all-in-one fleecy get-up. It is truly chilling that these students believe that a short skirt means women are asking for it. No still means no. Simple and yet, apparently, scarily ineffective. Why is it that, despite decades of struggle for the right to choose, women still find themselves blamed for the disgraceful actions of some men? Student Direct can only hope that these unsettling views are not held by a student population closer to home.

The mysterious removal of the plaque which publicises Manchester’s controversial twinning with Al-Najah University Student Union has sparked speculation as to the reasons behind its unexplained disappearance. This vanishing act should perhaps come as no surprise to students who are aware of the contention surrounding the twinning itself, believed, by some members of Manchester’s Jewish Society for example, to be the result of the Union formerly being controlled by left-wing parties who funded anti-Israel campaigns. Those in support of the twinning on the other hand described it as supportive of Palestinian students who are forced to undertake their education under occupation. While we have no leads as to the whereabouts of the missing sign, nor clues as to the perpetrator of its removal, Student Direct would be surprised if the plaque’s elimination were not motivated by political factors.