Uni students! Shag, drink... and cheer up!
WHEN I was at university – admittedly a long time ago – two main activities occupied student minds: pouring gallons of cheap ale down our necks and losing our mess up as many posh birds as possible.
There was, it’s rumoured, also some education involved along the way. I have no evidence of this.
When I look at my not- verydistinguished degree certificate, kept in a cupboard under a few dozen back numbers of Razzle magazine, it reminds me that I had three years of very good fun.
These days, it seems, things are very different. Today’s students do not have fun. They just go looking for things to be upset about.
Of course, there have always been aggravating, lefty student agitators, but today’s undergrads seem insanely determined to be miserable. In Bristol the university theatre has been forced to cancel a T im Rice/ Elton John musical called Aida.
The reason?
It was feared that white actors might be cast as ancient Egyptians and Ethiopian slaves.
“So what?” says every sane person in the world.
Madness
Well, apparently, it’s utterly taboo for actors of one race, creed or nationality appearing in dramatic productions as members of another.
It’s something called “cultural appropriation”.
This madness is taking place at unis up and down the country.
In Cambridge, undergraduates ranted over an African- themed dinner, while others forced the cancellation of parties based on Around The World In 80 Days.
The 80 Days bash was called “erasing and gross” with “toxic connotations of commodification and enjoyment of white people at the expense of others”.
In Ottawa, Canada, student leaders had yoga classes for the disabled stopped – and I swear I’m not making this up – on the grounds that yoga is rooted in Indian religion and teaching it amounted to theft. For Christ’s sake! My simple message to students is: have some fun at uni.
When you emerge into the world of work, bills and drudgery there’ll be all the misery you can handle.
Have a drink. Get your leg over. And for f** k’s sake cheer up!