We’re banning Angels instead
IT’S USUALLY drink that needs to be cracked down on to stop student parties descending into chaos.
But at one college at Durham University, they’re banning Angels instead.
Robbie Williams’s 1997 power ballad is often played at the end of parties at St Mary’s College and a tradition has evolved where students stampede into the centre of the room and start “moshing” – dancing wildly – when the line “and through it all...” is sung.
But this mad rush escalated from a bit of fun to full-blown mayhem, in which a woman sustained a “very nasty injury”.
An email sent to students from the college authorities confirmed the victim fell and was trampled on. That led to a shoulder wound which required surgery.
The email said: “Some of you may be aware that at the Winter Ball earlier this term, one of our students sustained an injury at the end of the night when the college played its ‘end of the night song’ – Angels. College officers understand that a tradition has emerged around the playing of this song, which happens specifically at balls but, on occasion, at other events too – where students rush together into the middle of the room.
“On this occasion one student fell and had others rushing over them, which resulted in them sustaining a very nasty injury to their shoulder which has required surgery.” It prompted St Mary’s, founded in 1899, to declare a ban on the chart-topper at future balls. They said: “We do not feel that the tradition that has formed around this particular song is safe in the confined space of our dining hall or within college buildings.
“The safety of our students is paramount and so it has been agreed that the playing of Angels will no longer take place at future college balls.”
But management did say they will revisit the decision if students refrain from moshing.