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Hi Everyone!
Right - this one is an important one so please take the time to read it, even if you're not presently attending KinkSoc.
As you may or may not know, our society has suffered from a great deal of prejudice in the past from the colleges of the university, stigmatised, ostracised and undervalued. I went and spoke to the colleges and to park wood, and the Union. The colleges have informed me that they are united in having a policy specifically against us because of the nature of our society.
Now, I believe that if nothing else, our society is valuable because it provides people with access to the information regarding sexual health, safe practise and represents people of sexualities and sexual practises other than the norm. There is no other representation for this in the university or in the city (and before anyone says lgbt, there is a little overlap but they represent rather different issues). Apart from anything else, we are here to try and provide a safe and comfortable environment for people to express themselves, access unprejudiced and unbiased information and resources on 'alternative' sexual behavior, orientation or preferences and to have fun! To makes friends, meet people on similar wavelengths and have people to relate to whilst protecting the confidentiality and the interests of our members.
I believe we are a valuable society - and we're about to launch into quite a battle with the colleges regarding their prejudiced treatment of us with what we believe very strongly is a case of discrimination. However, without enough members to remain Union affiliated, we have no grounds to represent people, no power to combat prejudice and no funds to give them the services everyone should rightly have free access to. So here's the thing.
If you believe that people are entitled to equal rights regardless of their sexuality or private lives, or that this society is worth keeping around, can you afford to sign up and pay membership to the society? It's just £3 - that's about what your lunch at the student shop costs - we only need 20 paid members to remain Union affiliated. If you don't want to pay online, you can pay by cheque or with cash but please, please, take the time to support us now when we need you most.
Now, we've gotten off to a brilliant start and the SkinTwo Expo last weekend was fabulous. However, until we have space on campus to host events, talks and so forth (which the colleges are brickwalling us on) we can only provide so much of what we hope to offer to the community.
I'd love to see more of you there but I realise a society like ours can be quite an intimidating concept for some people if you're not sure what to expect. My advice? Come along once - we're friendly and forthcoming, the cocktails are gorgeous, the sofas comfortable and the company diverse and welcoming. I'm happy to meet up with people prior to socials to take them there or just so they don't have to turn up alone. If you want to know more about us, feel free to email me or one of the other committee members.
And finally - thanks to everyone for all the support we've had thus far - from members and non-members, societies backing our cause and individuals working on their own time - for paying membership, attending events and making this society the wonderful little community it is.
Clare Challis
KinkSoc President
fc37@kent.ac.uk
Anonymous
October 13 2006, 17:53:40 UTC 5 years ago
^ not in my experience, but I only went a couple of times two years ago. Still. It fucks me off that KS is yet another minority interest group marginalised by pompus pop eyed reactionary fuckwits.
October 13 2006, 18:58:51 UTC 5 years ago
October 13 2006, 18:08:05 UTC 5 years ago
It seems to me that their action may well be a result of teh University wishing to wash its hands of kink in the (spot)light of the publicity given to Kink as a result of the governments proposals with regard to extreme pornography. They may be worried about being sued as a 3rd party should anyones play get out of hand and someone be injured.
Have you contacted Backlash and explained what is happening. It may be that they have lawyers etc who might be able to adise.
Good luck
October 13 2006, 21:00:13 UTC 5 years ago
Thank you
October 14 2006, 11:46:35 UTC 5 years ago
October 15 2006, 13:53:50 UTC 5 years ago
Shame.
October 13 2006, 21:17:52 UTC 5 years ago
The Students Union should support on you on this as it is your sexuality...
You have my support from a member of staff from a University far, far away!
October 15 2006, 10:50:01 UTC 5 years ago
Anonymous
October 16 2006, 06:40:48 UTC 5 years ago
October 16 2006, 10:25:48 UTC 5 years ago
"Sexuality refers to sexual behavior in all sexual organisms."
Explain to me how the, based on this definition, the LGBT's view on Sexuality, differs from that of Kinksoc?
I worked on and with LGBT Campaigns for 4 years, while I was at uni. And it never ceases to amaze me the intolerance so entrenched in a group, who's aim, is to combat intolerance.
I am curious as to what specifically angers you re the link people make between Kinksoc and LGBT Soc. Would you be able to elaborate further? Your simple throw away statement makes it quite hard to see in the wider context of the debate in hand.
J
October 14 2006, 13:01:23 UTC 5 years ago
There's a reason why you need at least 20 members to have a society. You can't expect the union to provide money to any group of people for coming up with a society. Otherwise, I could go ahead and create a society with my friends to get money so we can go out for a big Christmas meal together.
If the union won't support you, just continue having meetings outside of uni. Who's going to stop you?
October 15 2006, 09:19:10 UTC 5 years ago
Regardless, the Union isn't against us - they're behind us and we should have enough members to continue to do so but with the new system, its taking some time to get signups which most of the smaller societies are finding. It's the principle that the colleges are discriminating against us and refusing us space. Quite frankly, KinkSoc can't do much with the Union's money anyway and has been self-funded for the most part, but we can't combat discrimination without the voice of the Union - thus the request for people to pay membership if they wanted this society to continue - I'm not asking for people to join just for the sake of it - it was a request for people who wanted to join or considered us a valuable society and were willing to support us (ie people who would otherwise be supporting but weren't sure, or didn't know about us, or simply werent around for socials).
Can I also point out that this post wasn't intended to offend anyone and that I'm sorry the two people with a problem about the lgbt having been mentioned in passing are clearly offended by it as I know we've had support from some lgbt members along with many others who consider the sexual discrimination issues to have been very similar and as far as I'm aware, while the issues our society face are very different, we're both trying to provide safe space and access to information regarding safe practise which is common ground, especially considering we have in the past and still do have a small overlap of members and should be representing the interests of those too.
Lastly I will say I'm so grateful for all the support we have been getting, particularly the floods of emails I've had regarding this post from students, alumni and individuals in the wider world willing to support us with legal help, advice and so forth, to write letters or extend our resources for our members regarding information, safety and the couple of offers Ive had from media agents to publish this to the wider world.
On behalf of KinkSoc - thanks!
October 16 2006, 07:53:19 UTC 5 years ago
Regardless, the Union isn't against us - they're behind us
Be careful on that. They might just be backing you because it's something to hurl (at great speed) against the University toffs. It's happened before. Just because they're backing you doesn't mean they support you.
I'm sorry the two people with a problem about the lgbt having been mentioned in passing are clearly offended
Just because LGBT are a minority doesn't make them tolerate or supportive of other minorities.. or even majorities. I still vividly remember an National Union of Students LGBT conference in 2002 where the blatant heterophobia had me feeling ill. And even if folks ARE tolerant/accepting, not many are willing to mix it all up into one pot.
As for going up against the University.. I suggest you write out exactly what you want KinkSoc to achieve and maintain, especially considering BDSM is illegal in the UK.. (I realise kink and BDSM are quite seperate.. but I severely doubt that's what the University folk realise or want to believe).
Good luck.
Other than that.. I agree with Dimitri. No Society doesn't mean dead Society. Keep meeting up.. create a Yahoo Group.. make yourselves known. You don't need Union money to make it work.
October 17 2006, 10:35:27 UTC 5 years ago
No, to broad a brush I think. Some SM acts have been found illegal though case law is now rather muddled. Much of BDSM is lawful or hasn't been the subject of a case.
5 years ago
October 16 2006, 10:31:08 UTC 5 years ago
Their whole new system of paying online, rather than collecting money in person from the freshers fair, has caused many smaller societies to get insufficient membership.
Traditionally, the societies got a lot of their membership from freshers who turned up to freshers fair and would join 10 societies, only to realise a week later that there were only 7 days in a week, and 4 of them clashed, and they then would just goto one. Also there is the issue regarding number of students who have debit/credit cards. And this is not to mention the fact that the site is so insecure it makes you laugh just watching (go on, sign up for -9 memberships of a society at 30000 each!). This is then compounded by the cash office being open for about 2 hours ever week, during which time most people, are, shock horror, in lectures.
So, the membership issue is by and large one which is caused by the Union. Most small societies (I have seen messages from Pagsoc, Kinksoc, and a few others) asking members to actually sign up online if they haven't already.
This new payment system is less than ideal.
J
October 18 2006, 11:27:31 UTC 5 years ago
Definately. I haven't joined any of the societies I usually do this year, and I've been a paid member of the AGS for the past ten years! Hopefully the union will abandon it as a bad experiment for next year.
As far as KinkSoc goes, the colleges don't book all the rooms in the evenings. A few of them are booked centrally (which is to say, by me ;) ) I sorted a room out with Clare this morning.
5 years ago
November 5 2006, 16:07:42 UTC 5 years ago
There were also members of staff attending, although whether for their own interest or to keep an eye on the society i was never quite sure. its a shame that its one of those societies that would probably have more members if it wasnt such a taboo subject. At least it gives new people or people discovering a different side of themselves somewhere supportive to go to to meet people like-minded and not feel like they are going to be criticised by them for asking questions about this sort of subject. its hard to advertise such a society and hold meetings without being present at freshers fayre and on the union lists. Also its unlikely people would opt to just go for a drink in a bar or restaurant on campus if its their first time and they are somewhat nervous about approaching the whole subject. a quieter secluded seminar room would be much better and wouldnt require invading the privacy of a members own house.
October 15 2006, 00:52:20 UTC 5 years ago
But.... whilst I don't really agree with you and so on, I'd defend your right to exist and function as a society.
Provided you're mature and realistic enough to admit the obvious problems inherent in that operation, on both your own part and on the part of the union / venues etc: regardless of their inclination to assist you (or lack thereof) you're a sticky issue and always will be.
October 16 2006, 07:57:53 UTC 5 years ago
You're incredibly limited in what you can actually do
Societies are groups of people who get together because they have a common interest. They discuss and talk about/do said interest, and pay into a pot which goes towards random things to do with the interest.
Since a lot of things that Societies do are social.. by your view.. it kinda makes all Societies 'limited' really doesn't it.
There's very few societies out there which provide an actual service. Most of it's just a piss up with a common theme.
October 16 2006, 14:58:30 UTC 5 years ago
There are quite clearly several unavoidable considerations, inherent in the nature of a society like kinksoc and completely beyond the control of its members or organisers, that impose specific limitations on what a society like that can organise within a university context. Stigmatising the colleges etc for being wary of kinksoc is thus representative of a slightly myopic viewpoint.
And that's just that.
October 16 2006, 15:02:48 UTC 5 years ago
If however, you wnat to be allocated a room in which to conduct a seminar on japanese rope-bondage.... You're thereby a totally different kettle of fish to mr joe blogs and his friends asking for a venue for their ska pop night or a seminar room in which to play dungeons and dragons.
Now, there's nothing wrong with Japanese rope bondage seminars, but the simple fact is that it's a bit of a sticky proposition nonetheless.
Having now made my point three times, I'll leave it there :-).
Best of luck regardless.
Anonymous
October 15 2006, 16:14:55 UTC 5 years ago
Saw this on informed consent
I read about this on informed consent's weblogs page.I just want to say good luck in fighting back against the university on their narrow minded "policy". I wholly support your motives as the university I attended had a similar policy.All the best of luck and keep up the good work.
October 16 2006, 00:18:47 UTC 5 years ago
Either providing a platform for you to speak and gain awareness or raise funds to help you guys out x
Jenis x
October 16 2006, 10:58:08 UTC 5 years ago
October 17 2006, 17:48:12 UTC 5 years ago
For me, I say lie. You don't have to tell them what the room is for, just a society meeting, make one up 'Tea Drinkers Soc', or 'British Developments in South Morrocco appreciation Soc'. Best of luck, I know how bad the Uni can be. I set up Pag Soc!