Status: Complete
Put pressure on The Soton Tab to remove its article about the passing of a student
This article should be removed: https://thetab.com/uk/soton/2019/05/14/soton-student-drowned-in-the-mud-on-the-common-after-almageddon-court-hears-80784. It infringes on the privacy of the student and tries to link him to drugs, rather than respecting his passing and leaving his friends and family to mourn in peace. Throughout Facebook, the article's comments and Crushampton, there are calls to remove the article and remember him in a positive light. Please could SUSU listen to the desires of its members and put pressure on The Tab to remove this nasty article, simply written for views rather than to remember the life of such a wonderful individual, as every student at this University is.
Responses
Following on from communication with the assistant editor of the Tab HQ, they have refused to edit or remove the article. This is a disappointing response. The Union has already taken steps to ensure the Tab is not welcome at any of our Freshers events andb that the Union does not engage with them in future. Unfortunately there is little recourse left to the Union, as the Tab is in no way affiliated to us or the University, beyond asking students to make complaints directly. The editor's email is grace@thetab.com. If any student would like to talk to the Union directly about this, please contact president@susu.org.
Tuesday 25th Jun 2019 5:26pm
Thank you for your submission, we understand the strength of student feeling on this matter, and have since put out this statement:
"The Soton Tab recently published an article regarding the death of a University of Southampton student. This article displays a complete lack of sensitivity on the subject, with no mention of support services for readers.
The Union has received complaints from students, including submissions to You Make Change, and the article has received considerable backlash on social media.
Students have asked the Union to take action. We have therefore contacted the national Tab directly and asked them to take down the article out of respect for the student, their family & friends, and all those affected by this tragic event.
As The Soton Tab is not a society affiliated to the Union, the immediate sanctions available to us are:
- Ban The Tab from attending any of our Freshers’ events, such as the Freshers’ Fayre
- Refuse any request for individual comment from our Sabbatical officers on any current or future article
We will be doing both of these with immediate effect.
If students are feeling distressed about this issue and would like advice and support, please contact either the Students’ Union Advice Centre or University of Southampton Enabling Services."
I will update this submission with any response recieved from the National or local Tab, and if you have any further questions or comments please do let me know.
- Evie Reilly (VP Democracy & Creative Industries) on behalf of the SUSU Sabbatical Team
Tuesday 21st May 2019 11:45am
Actions
- Forwarded to Vice President Activities
Friday 17th May 2019 1:22pm
Comments
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