Union to consider Blurred Lines ban

UBU may be next in line to ban Blurred Lines from Union buildings

| UPDATED Blurred Lines Bristol Student Union rape culture Robin Thicke UBU

UBU is to debate a ban of Robin Thicke’s chart-topping single ‘Blurred Lines’ from all Union buildings, following accusations that its lyrics glamorise rape.

Women’s Officer Alice Phillips plans to raise the motion ‘End Rape Culture’ at Student Council next month which, if passed, would enable the Union to boycott the controversial single. The policy would also provide for the Union to ban similar songs in future without further discussion.

Phillips told The Tab: “I think the motion will be useful in expressing that Blurred Lines is endemic of a particular culture that we need to address. It hasn’t been created in a vacuum”.

The single, which has been widely accused of making light of the boundaries between consensual and non-consensual sex, has already been banned by the Student Unions of Edinburgh, Leeds, Kingston, and Derby, and continues to attract a storm of criticism.

The news comes as UBU prepares for the launch party of its first club night ‘Suspension’, which will take place at the Anson Rooms this Saturday.

UBU President Rob Griffiths told The Tab: “We might give the DJs guidance about what we expect them to play beforehand.

“It might seem a bit trivial to judge what people ‘can and can’t listen to’ like this, but everybody has a right to be in a welcoming environment without really offensive songs being played at them.

“If we play Thicke’s music at UBU we would pay him through the licensing body for the privilege of doing so. It doesn’t sit comfortably with me personally, and a lot of other people besides.”