Centrefold complaints and halls drama

In response to Issue 1633 Centrefold (netball) Dear Felix

I attended the Imperial College Festival last weekend. I was inspired and captivated by the enormous range of research and innovation that I was able to discuss in detail with students, researchers and professors who were all passionate about what they were doing and keen to share their thinking. What a privilege!

Whilst there I picked up Felix (Issue 1633); the centre-fold made me gasp in horror and then brought me close to tears. I was a student in Electrical Engineering from 1977-80. At that time there were 5% women across Imperial College, with fewer in engineering. As Hon Sec and then President of C&G Union, I worked in every way possible to help retain current female students and attract new female students. In this context, C&GU actively challenged all sexist representation of women and activities and “traditions” that degraded women. IC Union also made its voice heard on many issues of national policy and practice that discriminated against women.

I presume the IC netball team chose to attract teams for their tournament in this way but I ask them why they would want to present their bodies rather than their netballing skills. And why would Felix want to encourage them in this?

I presume the IC netball team chose to attract teams for their tournament in this way but I ask them why they would want to present their bodies rather than their netballing skills. And why would Felix want to encourage them in this? I ask you all to think about the message you are giving to female peers who doubtless rebuff unwanted sexual comment and harassment daily; the message you are giving to male peers who are again being invited to look at women as objects for their gratification; the contribution you are making to the pressures on young women to compete through their looks rather than their achievements.

It was noticeable that, amongst all the wonderful IC people I spoke to, women were extremely under-represented. It was also noticeable that visitors were predominantly men and boys. Imagine a young girl, wondering about a future in science or engineering, opening your newspaper at the centre spread. Will it invite her into the exciting world you have chosen? You can - and should - do better than this.

Jo Armitage EEE, 1977-80 (via email)

I understand where you’re coming from. However, I do not believe these pictures are sexual. I have never published a sexual centrefold. I’m sure you’ve seen the film Calendar Girls – the nudity in our centrefolds is always along those lines: fun, non-sexual and silly. There is no obligation to be fully naked, and no one in the club is forced to take part.

Also, male students are often in the centrefold, both in sports teams and mixed groups.

The idea that we as women can’t be naked in centrefolds and also be free to rebuff unwanted sexual advances is terribly worrying and frankly, sad. If men see women in the centrefold and think they’re easy ‘objects’ available for harassment, then the fault lies with those men.

I have never published a sexual centrefold.

This attitude of policing women’s bodies, deciding what is liberating or appropriate for them to show or hide for their own ‘good’ is bullshit. FemSoc’s centrefold (Issue 1631) is particularly hard-hitting, and raises the issues of sexism, rape and gender. There are plenty of ways for clubs to promote themselves in FELIX – the Clubs & Societies pages, sport – and the centrefold is just one of those. Many clubs, with both male, female and non-binary members, would release naked calendars anyway, even if FELIX didn’t have a centrefold. These are usually fun, and always for charity.

Our newspaper does not exist to engage young girls wandering round the Imperial festival. It is made by students, for students, and forever may it remain.

-Ed.

In response to Issue 1633 Centrefold (netball) Dear Felix

I attended the IC Festival last weekend it was a fantastic event. The inspiration it provided in all fields was exciting.

But I was completely horrified when I picked up a copy of Felix 1633 in the cafe. What on earth was the thinking behind that centrefold of the netball team? And this in the same issue as an article about sexual harassment. I thought we only got those sorts of mixed messages in The Sun!

There are few enough women working and studying in the sciences – what sort of message does that kind of imagery send out to young women and girls who may be thinking of studying at Imperial?

I truly would like to know what the intentions and thinking behind that photo were and why Felix thought it a suitable advertisement for women at Imperial.

Julie Peel (via email)

The netball team were behind what I thought was a cute, fun, and again, non-sexual photo, promoting their tournament. FELIX isn’t meant to be an advert to study at Imperial. The centrefold is one way for students to advertise events to other students.

The fact that you’ve brought up the cat-calling article is deeply worrying to me. Should its writer expect sexual harassment if she had appeared in the centrefold? Should she expect it if she was a fully fledged page three model? Do either of these things means she's asking for it? No.

-Ed.

In response to, well, nothing Hey hallmates! Like you, I'm so happy that the year's nearly over. It's time to relax, unwind and exorcise those pent-up impulses. Nevertheless, the last few end-of-terms have gotten a bit out of hand, and I've been left verklempt by some baffling behaviour. I'm writing here to tell you what's hot and what's not so that we can all still be super-besties!

I love parties as much as anyone. They last to 3am, the volume's on full-blast and the drinking games involve Stolichnaya and gummy bears!

Who doesn't love that? At the end of the night (or start of the day, depending on how wild you are), you'll get back to your room and return to humdrum civilian life.

For some low-energy people, this might involve a collapse in the general direction of the bed.

For the champions among us, you will return to your room at 4:30am with your new best friend, then after forgetting protection, run up to my neighbour’s door and yell "[insert neighbour's name here] GIMME A CONDOM". You will outdo yourself every time with your dog-yelping and epic fornications until dawn. Please do NOT stop; your efforts help me to wake up for morning lectures!

Now when it comes time for breakfast, I will stumble blearily into the kitchen and find myself on the set of Willy Wonka's office.

Half of the table will have disappeared, having floated down five flights of stairs to the common room. It's a pretty cool party trick, but it's actually really sad that no-one else can witness the magic done on their floors. My fine magician, you have to consider their needs as well!

Anonymous (via email)

Um, this is not what the letter pages are for, but we hope your public service announcement works. You should probably find a studio for next year, because newsflash – this is what people are like.

-Ed.