‘Racist, religiously insensitive and demeaning’: LSE athletes’ Christmas party
December 11th, 2009 | Author: Hilary Aked
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.
71 Responses to “‘Racist, religiously insensitive and demeaning’: LSE athletes’ Christmas party”
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Shocking behavior at LSE of all places !!
why are only anglosised names attacking the article?
it’s not surprising that you aren’t offended rather like Carol Thatcher thought golliwag was inoffensive.
you guys are racists but wont like to admit it.
it’s not liberal madness but your pathetic intolerane!
its true that insults to Muslims and the Islamic faith has become second nature to Britons with the help of the tabloids that seek out stories involving muslims. for instance 2 and a half years ago there was a succesful anti terrorism operation carried against former BNP members who had stockpiled a large cache of weapons and explosives in preparation for what they believed was an inevitable civil war between white britons and muslims. this story was covered with a small article in the middle of the news paper while the front page was reserved for a muslims protesting in london over the veil controversy.
im a muslim and it worries me the level the media plays in todays islamaphobia
someone commented that they party goers were only insulting terrorists from guantanamo bay………..
please don’t tell me your also from LSE? has the standards really dropped since I have graduated?
to said commenter, they detaintees haven’t been convicted rather held without trail. Thus aren’t terrorists according to high standards of due process the British legal systems uphelds.
I completely agree with Max and King’s Saff.
Absolutely disgusting behaviour, I’m not sure who is worse, those committing this shameful behaviour or those defending them.
Well done for reporting this article.
This is no laughing matter. I saw the students doing it and I felt ashamed to be an LSE student. This is clearly offensive and out-of-order. Many of my Muslim friends no longer feel comfortable on campus, especially following a recent Islamophobic article in The Beaver in week 10.
Its time people stopped making excuses for such actions full of hatred and stood united against racism and religios discrimination.
I don’t go to LSE, but I’d be ashamed of these guys if I did!
42 king’s saff. very true.
If those students were Muslim students dress up as Jews held in camps before the holocaust occurred. I would assume they would all be granted long jail sentences.
This country is racist and unfair, yet they beg for freedom of speech only that some pay a punishment for it and others don’t.
“i believe the downfall of Britain society will be alcohol”
Yes, because alcohol is an entirely new thing in British society and hasnt been around for centuries.
we shouldn’t be biased, an insult is an insult no matter who its directed to. if these students came dressed up in Nazis uniform i doubt any one would have took it lightly.
Surah Al Baqarah (2:219) – Wisdom behind Prohibition of Alcohol, Harms of Alcohol
They ask you about intoxicants and games of chance. Say: In both of them there is a great sin and means of profit for men, and their sin is greater than their profit. And they ask you as to what they should spend. Say: What you can spare. Thus does Allah make clear to you the communications, that you may ponder
During the early days of Islam, consumption of liquor, just like other ills and evils of society, was also prevalent. When Prophet Muhammad migrated from Makkah to Madinah he found that the people of Madina were also indulged in drinking. The masses were so attracted by the superficial and deceptive benefits offered by drinking that their minds became oblivious of the harmful effects and the evils lurking within these addictions.
Our Prophet was the finest model who set the best example of his sublime characteristic, so much that whatever was yet to be declared prohibited His habit and nature made him detest it from the very outset. Besides Prophet Muhammad, other companions of the Prophet also refrained from consuming alcoholic beverages even when these were permitted.
On Reaching Madinah, some of companions of Prophet realized the evil in liquor. So, Hazrat Umar Farooq, Maaz Ibn Jabal, and some of the other companions approached Prophet Muhammad and questioned him regarding alcohol and gambling, which they thought was ruining not only man’s intellect but also his wealth.
In response to this query, the above verse (2:219) was revealed and it constituted the first of a series of revelations leading to the final and conclusive verse, which prohibited and declared prohibited (haram) both gambling and liquor.
Although the above verse dose not prohibit alcohol clearly but it clearly indicates the harms of alcohol and also the fact that it not liked by ALLAH. At least this verse presents an advice for abstaining from the usage of alcohol. This is why some of the companions after hearing this verse immediately stopped consuming alcohol and accepted this advice.
Al-Maeda (The Table, The Table Spread) 5:90 & 91
O you who believe! Intoxicants (all kinds of alcoholic drinks), gambling, AlAnsâb, and AlAzlâm (arrows for seeking luck or decision) are an abomination of Shaitân’s (Satan) handiwork. So avoid (strictly all) that (abomination) in order that you may be successful.
Shaitân (Satan) wants only to excite enmity and hatred between you with intoxicants (alcoholic drinks) and gambling, and hinder you from the remembrance of Allâh and from As-Salât (the prayer). So, will you not then abstain?
Cheers for the quotes about alcohol but Id have to ask what the relevance is? Weve had alcohol in Britain for more than a thousand years.
The relevance is obvious is it not?! that when these ppl are intoxicated they don’t know what they’re doing. For example i read an article yesterday where this woman in the US was convicted of Bestiality. Officers found movies of her abusing her dog but when questioned said she was drunk and did not know what she was doing! So my friend as Allah commands to all of humanity stay away from consuming alcohol so you don’t do stupid things and that is better for you. These AU guys although they were drunk by the looks of it knew what they were doing, their intention to offend Islam was clear from the beginning from when they purchased the orange jumpsuits!
These members of the AU are ignorant filthy individuals as are many other societies at the LSE, Racist and xenophobic from their roots
Well British society has managed to stagger along well enough for the past millenia despite being soaked in booze. Allah’s advice is appreciated but I doubt, thankfully, it will be taken.
I think the above comments are straying away from the main argument, It’s not about the influence of alcohol rather the disgraceful behaviour of certain individuals. If the same behaviuour was used to mimick the holocaust, Slavery or any other atrocity that has taken place, the people of this country and around the world would be outraged, and rightly so. It is only right that the same level of outrage should be displayed for this racist and discriminatary behaviour. So come on people let us condem all acts of offensive behaviour. Is it any wonder Muslims feel marginalised and attacked? The double standards are absolutely shocking! Is it any wonder why Muslims who were born and brought up in this country feel a loss of identity? How can I truly feel British when my faifth is constantly under attack? We are constantly told the great thing about this country is respect and tolerence of others, well if this is the case, I have yet to see it. It would be wrong to paint everbody with the same brush, as there are still a great majority of people in this country who are decent human beings.
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