James chair forced to apologise after stripper incident
Khatu (right) at the student’s birthday party
James JCRC Chair Chet Khatu has been forced by the university to apologise after a stripper was hired for a party in the college’s common room at which he was present.
Jane Grenville, Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Students, mailed all JCRC Chairs saying that “The hiring of strippers, male or female, is an inappropriate use of public space” and the incident would be treated as a disciplinary matter. YUSU President Anne-Marie Canning and Women’s officer Laura Payne both formally complained to the University.
In a statement Khatu denied being involved in either the hiring of the stripper or the choice of the JCR as a venue for the birthday celebration of a close friend. He along with about 30 others had been invited to the event which he said was “conducted with an air of good humour between all spectators.” Khatu did not apologise in the statement, although he urged students “not to repeat this event.”
Payne said: “It was entirely inappropriate and was an abuse of college space. It was completely thoughtless to other members of the college who may feel uncomfortable, particularly women.”
Photos from the event which showed Khatu with a female stripper were posted on his Facebook profile and were reported to the University by another student. Khatu said: “I’m very disappointed at this person, and urge them to come forward and explain their actions.”
Khatu refused to assist with a college investigation by James Provost Neil Lunt and the issue was subsequently referred to the University Registrar, Sue Hardman. Khatu said: “this was something I was not comfortable doing as I do not feel it is my position to place blame on a fellow student. Having made this clear to Neil and related staff, it was taken to higher authorities where my stance remained unchanged.”
Lunt said: “My view is that such use of communal space is unacceptable. The JCR Common Room is a communal space and it is for the use of all members of the college community including women and international students. By all means have fun, but let us not forget why we are here.”
Khatu denied that his position as chair has been made untenable by the incident, and said that his reputation had not been affected as he was not directly involved in organising the event.
John
I really don’t see the problem here. It wasn’t a JCRC funded event, so why all the fuss? Its just another example of anti male sentiment that is deemed acceptable on this campus. Female JCRC members have been to Ann Summers parties before and no-ones had a problem.
Fair enough a stripper might make some people uncomfortable, but no-one was forced to be present, and I would have thought they’d be no-more uncomfortable to turning up at someone else’s birthday party anyway!
Miranda
‘Fair enough a stripper might make some people uncomfortable, but no-one was forced to be present’
The point is that the James JCR is a public space and for use of every member of the college. True noone was forced to be present, but the party would have ensured that many stayed away, which seems an unfair monopoly on James college’s limited facilities.
Josh Harnett
Petty.
Sarah Foster
I find it particularly odd that Neil Lunt seems to think that only female and international students will be offended by the presence of a stripper in their common room.
If I remember correctly, a similar thing happened in Langwith last year. Strangely enough I don’t remember the fallout being reported at all, even though it was part of the college’s football team’s punch, as thus far more connected with the jcrc than this incident.
John
Miranda,
That is a totally valid and reasonable criticism, but my point is that the JCR is a bookable space like any other, and the president has attended similar ‘private’ parties in communal space, and Laura hosted a Womens only event in Vanburgh JCR just recently.
So if neither of them have an issue with using communal spaces for events which prevent others from using the space fully, why did they make a formal complaint?
Laura Payne
The event the women’s committee hosted in Vanbrugh JCR recently was open to all members of the Union and was advertised as such. It was an event to encourage participation in the Union in the run up to the YUSU elections, and I see this as very different to the event now in question.
I complained about this incident because I was asked to in my capacity as Women’s Officer - the situation then escalated to senior university management and has been resolved there.
If anybody has any questions or comments about this they are welcome to contact me - I try to respond as quickly as possible!
The Mac
The space was not booked out to anyone.
John
But thats my question Laura, why did you complain? ‘I was asked to’ isn’t really a reason is it?
I just don’t see how this incident is any different to any other private event that takes place in a JCR whether its officially booked or not. A group of people having punch together would make others uncomfortable, but that is deemed acceptable.
What was your, Anne-Marie’ s , or the original complainants reasoning beyond a knee-jerk ’strippers are bad’ reaction.
Anne-Marie
John - show a little more sophistication in your accusations.
The issue is out of my hands and in the university’s and they dealt with it as they saw fit.
I forwarded the views of students who had approached me with their complaints.
Lisa
I agree with John. Why are people complaining? Students are allowed to book and use JCR’s for private parties. Nobody was forced to attend and nothing illegal was going on!
John
I’m not really sure what you mean by ” show a little more sophistication in your accusations”
I’m not accusing anyone of anything, I understand that you’re there to represent students, but I wonder whether you honestly think they have a valid complaint. If you do, fine, but if you don’t then why not say as much and direct them to the appropriate authority. (if that’s what you did then I apologize)
I totally understand why people might resent the space being used for private parties, but I don’t think its any more an “abuse of college space” than any other privately organized event in a JCR, and lending YUSU support to a petty complaint about a private event reinforces a culture of oversensitivity; after all it would hardly be the first time someone felt uncomfortable in the presence of a stripper and left (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/magazine/7213584.stm)
I don’t mean to come across as rude, but I do think that in Laura’s comments she’s made this into something much bigger than it is, and I think she could have stood up for reason rather than reaction.
Nick
“But thats my question Laura, why did you complain? ‘I was asked to’ isn’t really a reason is it?”
In fairness that IS a perfectly acceptable reason.
She’s the chair of a society, members of the society asked her to voice their complaints in her position. Therefore it was her duty to do it and she has absolutely no reason to explain herself for that. Likewise with Anne-Marie Canning, they were both just doing their jobs (and bloody well as always in both cases).
Him
Laura would be a pretty damned incompetent women’s officer if she didn’t take this up when someone complained to her about it.
At the end of the day, common rooms are for common use, and nobody should be made to feel excluded from them.
anon.
Good on the James chair for standing up and refusing to apologise or assist in this waste-of time investigation into him and the event.
If he had no involvement (other than his mere presence) in this event, then why is his name being dragged into this?
It seems that every small thing at this university gets over analysed or complained about.
I accept that people can and do have opinions and complaints with the use of a communal college space for something as potentially offensive as hosting a stripper. Moreover, as the JCR was not booked out, it was therefore, theoretically at least, an open college communal space. As such, even I would agree it was not the right use of the JCR.
(You can, rightly, agrue that, as there was a party going on in there, the JCR was effectively private as anyone who wasn’t invited would not want to go in anyway; this being the universal social norm in any public place, so please don’t argue that this shouldn’t be allowed to continue as it is a part of life and social interaction).
Regardless of this wider agrument, the James JCRC chair should certainly not be brought into question concerning this event. The fact he is having to deny ridiculous assertions that his position has been made untenable just reflects the petty nature of a great portion of life, not just at this Uni, but I feel in wider society also.
Think about it!
The role of a college chair is to represent students. How can someone who has been discredited in this way do this with any authority? Part of being a college chair is also to be approachable to any student who has a problem - again, how can you do this
if you have alienated them by engaging in activities make them uncomfortable? Whether or not Khatu’s position is untenable is the decision of James’ students, but there is certainly a strong case to be made.
And Lisa - yes, students are able to book the JCR. But there are two key points here, firstly that the JCR wasn’t actually booked and secondly that it may not be booked to entertain strippers.
And finally to anon, the James college chair has apologised for the event, and in writing(proving his acceptance that it was inappropriate). Regardless of this though, to celebrate someone for refusing to cooperate in an investigation or offer an apology where necessary actually says more about the writer than it does about the situation.
Chris Thompson
Somebody must had told them prior to this incident that strippers were unacceptable. Nevertheless, students are inevitably going to push the boundaries to see what they can get away with.
Robert
“But there are two key points here, firstly that the JCR wasn’t actually booked and secondly that it may not be booked to entertain strippers”
Surely thats an entirely self defeating argument…and anyway, I’ve never booked a JCR but does it really ban strippers from attending, surely people can invite who they like as entertainment?
Josh
John,
Some people just love to complain for no real reason at all. It’s just a fact of life. Others get on with things and others complain about things which don’t concern them.
This PC culture we now live in is pathetic. Bring back the good old days!
anon
This may seem irrelevant but I actually think it has some validity. Excluding the fact that the form of entertainment was a stripper people are talking about the ‘intimidation’ and ‘exclusion’ the gathering had evoked. Well I seem to remember the rugby world cup and the capacity being at its maximum in the James JCR. That lasted a good 2 hours whilst the stripper lasted 20 minutes.
The two forms of entertainment were indeed different but no less significant. They both exclude a section of the college and the amount of people in the JCR watching the rugby could well have intimidated others. Someone, no matter if there are 2 people in there or 50, will be excluded from that public space but if someone can’t use the JCR at a certain time, they get over it.
One of the issues of the ’stripper incident’ was that no one booked the JCR. Well I am pretty sure no one booked it the night of the rugby world cup and it probably had a higher risk of being damaged purley because of the sheer number of people crammed in there. The fact it was a stripper brings it onto a whole new level and it really shouldn’t. People are being far too sensitive. I am a female and I am certainly not offended by it, in fact I was there. If someone had come to the JCR and been so horrified and disgusted with the sight then I suppose they would have left and come back at a later time just like any normal person would.
I’m sorry to go on but I find this debate pathetic and people should really get some perspective. The name of the James college chair is being dragged through mud for something that has been blown completely out of proportion. Would the same issue be raised if the same amount of people were watching a highly offensive and violent film in the JCR? I think not.
Josh
Hurrah for anon! Well spoken (typed)!
Chet, Chair of James
Hi all, thanks for all the comments so far. There is a large discrepancy between actual events and what has been reported; I did not apologise to the Provost, I was not called for “disciplinary hearings 3 times” and the apology to the University is meagrely for my presence, NOT for organising the event.
Away from that, an attempt to damage my reputation over nothing but rumours is being instigated, I refuse to be disgraced from vermin that have decided to write based on rumours and false accusations. To date I have done more than what is required as a college chair and continue to work to the best of my ability for James College. Questioning my integrity to do this over an article such as this is unfair.
I hope the student body read the article in Vision/Nouse with an air of intelligent scepticism and realise the false implications within this story. Keep your eyes peeled for the press release I doubt will be published, and yet I released to the papers anyway.
Chris Northwood
He didn’t hire the stripper, wasn’t acting as JCRC chair and didn’t organise the party. I’m thinking that although the use of a stripper in the JCR was probably something questionable and controversial (although as John first points out, is probably not too different from using a JCR for an Ann Summers party), I don’t see why he as the James chair should be personally blamed, surely the person who organised the event and the stripper who is at fault here?
Chet, Chair of James
One more thing, to the writer of “Think about it” the apology was voluntary, I didn’t condone the fact the event was allowed to continue without exclusivity in my presence; I DO NOT apologise for anything else. I also do not feel comfortable trying to place blame on a fellow student, of whom I am representing as a member of my college, hence my hesitance adhering to Neil Lunt’s requests.
Finally, about the actual event, all people there had a good time. People are forgetting that nobody walked in, nobody was offended (despite, unfortunately, there being an opportunity for this to happen) and the birthday was conducted with good humour and respect for all persons involved. Please realise my view that if York University is comfortable allowing parties based around themes such as Pornography as certified campus events, there are no grounds to negate a stripper.
People are taking debates such as this too seriously, all of you, remember you are at University and here to have a good time with people that do not always necessarily think like you do. No intentional disrespect occurred and for those of you that could have been, I apologise that this could have offended you. x
Josh
Chet,
Only an uptight, divorced, middle-aged, white woman would possibly get offended by this. Don’t sweat, no students took this seriously.
I love Uni!
“Only an uptight, divorced, middle-aged, white woman would possibly get offended by this. Don’t sweat, no students took this seriously”.
If no students took it seriously, why were complaints received by at least 2 YUSU officers?
And what (who?) on earth is the first sentence of this quote about? What does anyone’s marital status, age or colour have to do with anything? And do we know it was only women who complained?
Miranda
‘Only an uptight, divorced, middle-aged, white woman would possibly get offended by this. Don’t sweat, no students took this seriously.’
What an utterly contemptible comment to make. Aside from your outmoded and frankly downright offensive labels, if anything the comments on this page and the article itself show that students really are taking this seriously.
Chet, if these are the kind of people arguing in your favour, you should cut your ties immediately. It’s not going to help the reputation you keep going on about.
John
“If no students took it seriously, why were complaints received by at least 2 YUSU officers?”
Well except there weren’t. Both Officers have said that they only passed on complaints made by others rather than taking issue with it themselves
There is a significant difference I feel, between a few (or even one) student(s) making a complaint which was then passed on by YUSU officers, and YUSU as an entity (which is what you’re implying) having a problem with the incident.
David
“Only an uptight, divorced, middle-aged, white woman would possibly get offended by this.”
Not only is this statement completely false, it’s probably more offensive than the actual incident being discussed. By all means defend Chet if you wish but please do it without saying anything quite so stupid as this. Stereotyping people in this way is inaccurate and unhelpful.
Josh
*flex*
Nothing like winding up people who can’t see a tongue in cheek comment.
David
Except maybe engaging properly with an issue rather than winding people up for the sake of it. How pointless is that?
David
Also, I realise this is Vision’s responsibility rather than Nouse’s but it’s a bit curious that in their photo relating to this, they blurred out the face of the student but not the stripper. Did nobody at Vision think maybe she had some rights as well?
anonymous
I agree with the words of the chair to the fact that you do come to university to have fun as well as to study, however in everything there is a limit. In this occasion this limit was breached and because of this certain students were insulted. The question I wish to raise to the chair is would he want a stripper at his birthday party or would he find it ‘degrading and distatsteful’?
I do not doubt that the party was sucessful and everyone had fun, however,
the JCR was not booked and though the chair defends himself in saying ‘nobody walked in’, what if someone had? It is irresponsible of a person whose main purpose is responsibility to have been part of this event.
The chair outwardly defends the person who organised the event, and be they of James college or other, it was the chairs responsibility to make sure that no such event had happened, especially in the JCR.
This event forces me to question the ability, not to mention the trustworthiness, of the present chair.
Dan
Don’t know him or anyone involved, but what a legend.
Mo
“If no students took it seriously, why were complaints received by at least 2 YUSU officers?”
Well except there weren’t. Both Officers have said that they only passed on complaints made by others rather than taking issue with it themselves”
So, the complaints weren’t received.. but they were passed on.. You do realise that passing on complaints made by others is pretty much impossible if you don’t receive the complaints in the first place?
John
Mo,
Apologies, I misread ‘recieved’ as ‘made’; rather exposes my own prejudices there!
I love Uni!
“…YUSU as an entity (which is what you’re implying) having a problem with the incident”.
You may have inferred this, but I certainly didn’t imply it! In any case, the entity that is YUSU is the student body, part of which clearly had, and has, a problem with what happened. “YUSU” is not the Executive Committee, or Senate, or any other sub-group.
The entity that is the University Administration doesn’t see too thrilled either!
Anonymous
“This event forces me to question the ability, not to mention the trustworthiness, of the present chair.”
He’s a legend, how about you shutup?
Josh
“He’s a legend, how about you shutup?”
I agree. The guy is a legend. He should be praised for this.
Donkey
Are you talking about the guy who looks like Shrek?
anon.
There seems to be a lot of discussion on why so many people are outraged about the use of the JCR. A few people have used the argument that if people can watch violent films, have pornographic themed events and watch rugby in large numbers in the JCR, then why not a live stripper?
Following this logic, it seems that if I want to organise a ’street’ fighting match, have sex with my partner in the JCR and have a whole 5 a side football match then this should all be okay as well!
Maybe this is going a bit far, but can people see where I’m coming from?
The reason I was insulted by the use of the JCR was not some deep seated hatred of strippers, but the fact that the JCR is meant to be a place where students can go and socialise. It’s true that not all events suit everyone, but if students do walk in on them they shouldn’t be possibly offended or upset! It’s not the fact the JCR wasn’t booked, it was the fact the JCR was used at all.
Chet’s a student and should have a good time, but he also made the decision to take on the responibilty of the whole college. Instead of attending this event, surely he should have accepted this responsibilty and taken appropriate action?
Guy Who Looks Like Shrek
No they’re not talking about me, they’re talking about Chet Khatu, Chair of James College.
Easy mistake to make though.
Stephen
This whole ’scandal’ makes me laugh, i can’t believe how seriously this whole thing is being taken. Ok so the JCR was not booked… but out of all of the many times i’ve used it i think its been booked about once.
What really gets me going about this is how it’s been turned into something of a catalyst for the attacks that currently seem to be being launched against Chet. He is a controversial figure and doesn’t always do everyrything exactly by the book but overall he is a good chair and he has the best intentions for the college. Those who condemn him for being there, put yourself in his shoes: you’re invited to a good friend’s birthday and you turn up and there is a stripper there, would you really kick off and try and get the whole thing shut down?? Honestly?
He’s not running the country people, campus politics it taken way too seriously, not that i condone cutlasses for all, but seriously, this IS a university.
Thanks.
Anon
There is a significant difference between having an ann summers party and hiring a stripper in a space that wasn’t booked in the first place. The issue is not the stripper because it is her way of earning money, but that these students thought it acceptable to buy a woman for the evening, which many people may find offensive (I find this objectifying and offensive). Ann summers parties are generally about women’s own pleasure and not objectification, and are generally in a non threatening atmosphere. I would expect more from a JCRC chair, particularly when he knew that JCRCs should be booked in advance so to secure the room for that use (whatever the use is) and to stop people being offended or discriminated against and walking in. A bunch of men hooting and laughing at a naked woman stripping can be quite intimidating.
Mark
Why are you guys so serious about this?
You’re talking about it like anyone actually gives two…
Get real and spend your time talking about something that actually matters.
That night the JCR was completely free and availeable for anyone to use as they saw fit. The incident in question was undertaken in a discreet and harmless manner hence why it has not been uncovered until now. It was nothing to do with anyone who wasn’t there therefore there shouldn’t be such dicussions about it.
Last year the Langwith football team hired out a stripper in their JCR and nothing came of it, why is this any different!?
m
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