Open Letter to the Editor of the Beaver, LSE

We, the undersigned students, have read the "Houghton Street Headaches" column (1st November, page 28) and would like to call into question your editorial judgement in publishing this offensive piece.

The article advocates sexual violence and rape and perpetuates misogynistic attitudes. Comments, such as "Always remember: it's not rape if you shout surprise" and encouraging punching your sexual partner in the back of the head ('donkey punching'), amongst others, normalises the attitude that physical violence against women is acceptable. This creates a culture of objectification, where men's mentalities are desensitized to their others as human, and women are ashamed to report sex crimes, as well as a criminal justice system that also brushes them aside -- only 6.5% of reported rapes result in due conviction.

We are aware that this piece was supposed to be satirical; however, in the context of the one in four women who will experience domestic violence in their lifetimes, two women a week who are killed by their partners or ex-partners, and approximately 80,000 women who experience rape or attempted rape each year, this is no laughing matter. Closer to home, 68% of women students have experienced sexual harassment on campus. The article trivialises the experiences of survivors of rape and sexual violence. It is, therefore, no wonder that when attitudes such as those in the article are fostered, only 10% of women students who have been seriously sexually assaulted report it to the police and even fewer to their universities. You have failed to recognise that publishing this article has wider social ramifications: for the victim who chooses not to report sexual harassment and for the perpetrator who has been conditioned to feel justified in his abusive actions.

The Beaver is published in the LSE Student Union's name and is responsible for upholding the SU equal opportunities policy (as according to the by-laws). The article published in last week's paper was undoubtedly in breach of these responsibilities due to its sexist and offensive material. The Beaver's constitution states that the Executive Editor "is responsible and shall have ultimate editorial control over the final content" (4.4). As Executive Editor, you are accountable for the articles published in The Beaver, alongside with the Editor of the Social Section, in which the column appeared. We, therefore, call upon you to reconsider your positions -- having failed to adhere to basic editorial standards.