Staff in £2,000 strip club spend
STUDENTS UNION DEMANDS APOLOGY FROM UNI
Reporter A NORTHUMBRIA University credit card spree at a strip club undermines the institution’s fight for gender equality, students have said.
A Freedom on Information request by the Guardian uncovered money spent by university employees on corporate credit cards.
Among the university-funded spending sprees highlighted was the £2,184 spent on a “corporate event” at the ‘gentleman’s club’ chain Spearmint Rhino – funded by Northumbria University.
The university says the payment was made on its card but reimbursed in full.
Student representatives said the purchase “undermines” work of Northumbria staff fighting against ‘lad culture’ and sexism.
Northumbria Students’ Union president Simon Noble said: “The Students’ Union accepts no money from student fees was misspent but we still believe there is a serious ethical issue to be addressed.
“Over the years Northumbria University has had some fantastic members of staff who have used their position to fight lad culture on campus, as well as fighting for gender equality in academia through their work with Athena Swan.
“It is a shame that this behaviour undermines that work and as your President of the Students’ Union I have met with senior members of the university to put forward our concerns.”
He said the union had demanded an apology from the university for “the serious breach of ethical behaviour” shown by staff attending the lap dancing club which representing the university, along with an investigation and “appropriate action” to prevent a similar incident, inviting students who wished to comment to contact him directly.
He added: “Every student should feel comfortable challenging misogyny on and off campus, and we expect our university to live up to the standards it has itself set out for its staff and students.”
In 2015, the university announced it was “taking a regional lead” on sexism with its North East Summit on “Tackling Lad Culture on Campus”, aiming to tackle “oppressive” and “warped” versions of masculinity which it said couldn’t be “dismiss[ed] it as ‘harmless’ and ‘just a bit of fun’”.
A spokesperson for Northumbria University said: “The payment made on a university credit card was reimbursed promptly and in full and that is the basis on which the transaction was authorised. This payment was made at a reception following a corporate event at which Northumbria staff were invited guests.