Agenda item

That this Council:-

(a)       recalls the ‘Carnage UK’ commercially organised bar crawls that have taken place in Sheffield in recent years which have provoked controversy, particularly noting an incident in October 2009;

(b)       notes with great concern the planned event in Sheffield on October 8^th which is being advertised with the theme ‘Pimps and Hoes’ and believes that such a title is completely inappropriate and has caused offence;                   

(c)        supports comments by the Women’s Officer at Sheffield University Student Union “As a representative of women students, and having worked in a refuge for women trafficked in to sexual slavery, I feel that this theme utterly trivialises violence against women - specifically violence against women in the sex industry. Just to be clear - the definition of a 'pimp' is a man who uses manipulation and or violence to coerce women (and sometimes men) in to prostitution in order to take their earnings. I am angry and disappointed that Carnage has chosen such a flagrantly sexist marketing strategy. I urge [them] to reconsider [their] theme."

(d)       notes that similar concerns have been expressed by the President of Sheffield Hallam University Student Union and Sheffield Central MP, Paul Blomfield;

(e)       continues to support the vibrant nightlife in Sheffield’s many excellent bars, pubs and clubs, noting that this provides a boost to the local economy; and

(f)         welcomes the work undertaken by both Sheffield University and Sheffield Hallam University Student Unions to promote responsible drinking and encourages Carnage to refocus their approach based on this more responsible model and to take into account local feeling about their events both in the student community and amongst Sheffield people as a whole.

RESOLVED: On the Motion of Councillor Harry Harpham, seconded by Councillor Jayne Dunn, that this Council:-

(a)       recalls the ‘Carnage UK’ commercially organised bar crawls that have taken place in Sheffield in recent years which have provoked controversy, particularly noting an incident in October 2009;

(b)       notes with great concern the planned event in Sheffield on October 8^th which is being advertised with the theme ‘Pimps and Hoes’ and believes that such a title is completely inappropriate and has caused offence;         

(c)        supports comments by the Women’s Officer at Sheffield University Student Union “As a representative of women students, and having worked in a refuge for women trafficked in to sexual slavery, I feel that this theme utterly trivialises violence against women - specifically violence against women in the sex industry. Just to be clear - the definition of a 'pimp' is a man who uses manipulation and or violence to coerce women (and sometimes men) in to prostitution in order to take their earnings. I am angry and disappointed that Carnage has chosen such a flagrantly sexist marketing strategy. I urge [them] to reconsider [their] theme."

(d)       notes that similar concerns have been expressed by the President of Sheffield Hallam University Student Union and Sheffield Central MP, Paul Blomfield;

(e)       continues to support the vibrant nightlife in Sheffield’s many excellent bars, pubs and clubs, noting that this provides a boost to the local economy; and

(f)         welcomes the work undertaken by both Sheffield University and Sheffield Hallam University Student Unions to promote responsible drinking and encourages Carnage to refocus their approach based on this more responsible model and to take into account local feeling about their events both in the student community and amongst Sheffield people as a whole.