Student's Union
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Student's Union
Saw a repeat of High Flyers(the series on the UAS at Woodvale) last night. They were recruiting at Liverpool and Manchester universities. I was astounded, nay disgusted, that they were not allowed into the building for the Freshers Week, because the Student's Union deemed that the Forces were not an equal opportunities employer, due to the fact that, at the time, gays were not allowed.
What a bunch of to$$ers!
What a bunch of to$$ers!
Yes, this problem often occurred at some student union freshers' fayres... They allow the freshers to be influenced by dubious political groups, but when it comes to the Armed Forces, ooh no, can't have that
I was recruiting at one London student union once with the aid of a couple of our more amusing students (this was before Pink Wednesday). After putting up with frosty glares from the Gay and Lesbian society for an hour or so, I got a bit fed up. So I said to one of the lads "OK, your task for today is to achieve a conversion". He spent the next hour or so attempting to make a very attractive young thing understand that she would have a far more interesting time with him than with her 'sisters' - I believe a DCO followed later!
If we received a refusal from any of the unions, I'd just thank them politely and advise them that they would be added to the central database of organisations which were known to suppress freedom of the individual.......
And before any one accuses me of being prejudiced, personally I didn't notice any significant changes to military life post the change on the ban on homosexuality. Even though the thought of what they do with eachother might make most of us shudder, if it meant that a few folk no longer lived in fear, then so much the better.
We used to be required to ask the prospective new students what their attitude was to homosexuality. Some responses would have made the Gestapo blush, but most were fairly non-committal. One lad replied "It's OK if it's kept discreet". When asked what he meant , he elaborated "What they get up to behind closed doors is their own matter; I just don't like having it rammed down my throat!" A somewhat unfortunate turn of phrase, so we moved on rapidly to other questions!
I was recruiting at one London student union once with the aid of a couple of our more amusing students (this was before Pink Wednesday). After putting up with frosty glares from the Gay and Lesbian society for an hour or so, I got a bit fed up. So I said to one of the lads "OK, your task for today is to achieve a conversion". He spent the next hour or so attempting to make a very attractive young thing understand that she would have a far more interesting time with him than with her 'sisters' - I believe a DCO followed later!
If we received a refusal from any of the unions, I'd just thank them politely and advise them that they would be added to the central database of organisations which were known to suppress freedom of the individual.......
And before any one accuses me of being prejudiced, personally I didn't notice any significant changes to military life post the change on the ban on homosexuality. Even though the thought of what they do with eachother might make most of us shudder, if it meant that a few folk no longer lived in fear, then so much the better.
We used to be required to ask the prospective new students what their attitude was to homosexuality. Some responses would have made the Gestapo blush, but most were fairly non-committal. One lad replied "It's OK if it's kept discreet". When asked what he meant , he elaborated "What they get up to behind closed doors is their own matter; I just don't like having it rammed down my throat!" A somewhat unfortunate turn of phrase, so we moved on rapidly to other questions!
A similar situation to that described by BEagle occured at Birmingham a few years ago. The delegated UAS member went in from the banished recruiting stall to the Freshers' Fair, and applied to join the Gay and Lesbian Society. When questioned as to his motive and sexuality, he declared himself firmly hetero, but wanting to join as he fancied the girls doing the recruiting, and in search of converts. On being turned away, he went directly to the Students' Union, who promptly ejected the G&Ls for sexual discrimination. Justice prevailed.
Same problem at Oxford in the early 90s. Problem was that the student union had (as usual) failed to read the small print.
It transpired that if they wished to exclude the UAS and OTC, then they could - but the University wouldn't allow them to use the building freshers fair was held in if they did because of the clear regulations that no clubs or societies could be discriminated against if they were recognised by the Uni authorities. As this was the only building big enough for the job at the time, capitulation turned out to be the only answer.
It transpired that if they wished to exclude the UAS and OTC, then they could - but the University wouldn't allow them to use the building freshers fair was held in if they did because of the clear regulations that no clubs or societies could be discriminated against if they were recognised by the Uni authorities. As this was the only building big enough for the job at the time, capitulation turned out to be the only answer.
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I know of at least one Union where the OTC swarmed into the annual meeting of students, outnumbering pinkos 10-1. They then voted one of their own into power, whose first act was to abolish the gay and lesbian groups funding from the Union and deny them access to their facilities.
The LGB complaints were ignored by the University as "El Presidente" was democratically elected!
The LGB complaints were ignored by the University as "El Presidente" was democratically elected!
Similar thing happened at a London college when a couple of Conservatives decided to join Socsoc - the Socialist society. They then demanded to see the financial records and found that very few of the lefties had paid their subscriptions. There was a clause in the University constitution stating that, if more than a certain percentage of any club or society's subscriptions had not been paid, then that society would no longer be considered bona fide and would therefore cease to exist. The appropriate evidence was presented - and Socsoc ceased to be. Oh dear, what a pity, never mind!
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Sadly, the tub thumpers will always be heard more than the silent majority of gay people, who don't find it necessary to shout about their sexuality from the rooftops.
I know quite a few gay people in all 3 armed services (including more than one fj pilot) and, although gay people are very much in the minority in the armed forces, there is probably a gay person among your own immediate circle of colleagues, whatever your branch, trade, squadron, ship, division, regiment or corps. Gay people in the forces philosophically put up with usual banter, most of which is based on stereotypes of gay people and what they get up to in the sack. (Top tip: You can spot the repressed gay person, as he or she is usually the one making the most virulent homophobic remarks).
As Beags suggests, the lifting of 'the ban' hasn't made one jot of difference, except it allows gay people to get on with their job, without fear of being turfed out of the mob.
I know quite a few gay people in all 3 armed services (including more than one fj pilot) and, although gay people are very much in the minority in the armed forces, there is probably a gay person among your own immediate circle of colleagues, whatever your branch, trade, squadron, ship, division, regiment or corps. Gay people in the forces philosophically put up with usual banter, most of which is based on stereotypes of gay people and what they get up to in the sack. (Top tip: You can spot the repressed gay person, as he or she is usually the one making the most virulent homophobic remarks).
As Beags suggests, the lifting of 'the ban' hasn't made one jot of difference, except it allows gay people to get on with their job, without fear of being turfed out of the mob.
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I was at the recruiting day in Liverpool, it was all a bit of a pharse really. They wouldnt let us into the union full stop. They thought the knives in our flying suits were dangerous weapons!
Still, i got my beeming face on carmera and can bee see loitering in the backgound...I was interviwed by the crew but alas i was left on the cutting room floor. my TV career over so soon.
It was all Ironic really as the GLS society were so against us descriminating people , where they not doing exactly what they were against by excluding us?
A side Point: anybody do a flying scholarship up in Perth in 1998, would be intrested to here what u guys have been up to...also any LUAS guys from 2000 (will , fordy, r u out there?)
Still, i got my beeming face on carmera and can bee see loitering in the backgound...I was interviwed by the crew but alas i was left on the cutting room floor. my TV career over so soon.
It was all Ironic really as the GLS society were so against us descriminating people , where they not doing exactly what they were against by excluding us?
A side Point: anybody do a flying scholarship up in Perth in 1998, would be intrested to here what u guys have been up to...also any LUAS guys from 2000 (will , fordy, r u out there?)
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I was at City of London when all the Unis were staging sit-ins over the student grant. A vote was held in the student's union meeting about what we should do and immediately after the decision a bunch of red arm banded people appeared shouting "follow me". Most of the meeting traipsed off to occupy the admin block, leaving a significant number of RN and RAF students. One of the RN asked if the meeting was closed and, being told it wasn't, proposed that the sit-in be moved to the first roundabout on the A1. After 2 short speeches each for and against the idea (all given by RN students and all very short!) a vote was held and unanimously agreed to move the sit-in. The student's union didn't pay any attention to the decision (of course) and the sit-in remained where it was. Democracy in action!
A well told tale about Yorkshire UAS recruiting in Leeds (or so my version goes!). They were initially refused entry to the Student's Union as they were military oppressor types, as well as not equal opportunity based, refusing as they did those preferring non-reproductive sexual relations.
They were allowed entry however after the Uni hierarchy told the SU to reign their necks in, albeit with the concession that the UAS stand had to erect a banner declaring that "We Are Not an Equal Opportunities Group - We Do Not Recruit Gays or Lesbians". First visitors to the stand were members from the Rugby club asking for a copy of the sign.
They were allowed entry however after the Uni hierarchy told the SU to reign their necks in, albeit with the concession that the UAS stand had to erect a banner declaring that "We Are Not an Equal Opportunities Group - We Do Not Recruit Gays or Lesbians". First visitors to the stand were members from the Rugby club asking for a copy of the sign.
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A little off the thread topic but funny nonetheless. A good friend of mine who was a member of Bristol UAS a few years ago told a funny tale about the G+L society after being refused entry to the SU for recruiting etc. He, along with the uni rugby club, one by one joined the G+L society and, when the society AGM came along, a member of the rugby club proposed that the society be closed down.
When it came to the vote, the whole uni rugby club voted for the motion and the society was no more.
It was only a few weeks later when the uni big wigs got wind of the scam that the society was reformed.
Rugby lads got a bo*****ing but nothing else came of it!!
Apologies for the off topic post
When it came to the vote, the whole uni rugby club voted for the motion and the society was no more.
It was only a few weeks later when the uni big wigs got wind of the scam that the society was reformed.
Rugby lads got a bo*****ing but nothing else came of it!!
Apologies for the off topic post
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Happy to say that (even though I didn't join), both the OTC & UAS were present at the Freshers' Week fair last September up here at Edinburgh Uni, and that there seemed to be loads of activity at both - from what I understand from a friend who joined the UAS, it was oversubscribed very very heavily. And the BLOGS didn't seem to mind.
Jordan
Jordan
And these are the same To$$ers that want us and others to pay for their further education. I am afraid on this one I have to support (with a lot of others) Tony on this one???
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It's all past history now, but the same thing was attempted at Bristol. The SU succeeded in obtaining a ban through a vote held at the Union by the members of the Student Council. That would have been that, but for the fact that a decision taken by the Council could, according to the Union constitution, be overturned by a student-wide referendum, if the referendum had enough people voting in it to make it quorate.
A referendum was duly held, and the GLB society and symathisers lost by a ratio of 2-1. The head of the GLB society resigned, and the UAS/OTC/URNU were reinstated.
I believe the quote in the student newspaper was that the result was "a triumph of common sense over politically correct leftist bullsh*t."
The GLB society members were pretty upset at it all - did include attempting to make physical threats towards the organiser, ha ha! However, when threatened with immediate and overwhelming physical violence by someone looking to start killing people early in his career they all backed down, every single one of them.
A couple of years later the ban on homosexuals in the military was removed, so it was no longer an issue.
PS Organising the referendum was loved by the board at OASC...
A referendum was duly held, and the GLB society and symathisers lost by a ratio of 2-1. The head of the GLB society resigned, and the UAS/OTC/URNU were reinstated.
I believe the quote in the student newspaper was that the result was "a triumph of common sense over politically correct leftist bullsh*t."
The GLB society members were pretty upset at it all - did include attempting to make physical threats towards the organiser, ha ha! However, when threatened with immediate and overwhelming physical violence by someone looking to start killing people early in his career they all backed down, every single one of them.
A couple of years later the ban on homosexuals in the military was removed, so it was no longer an issue.
PS Organising the referendum was loved by the board at OASC...
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"PS Organising the referendum was loved by the board at OASC..."
Is it any wonder we were never welcome in any forward thinking forum with that sort of Neanderthal attitude
As her majesties fineist is dragged into the 90's, kicking and screaming as usual, I am rather embarassed by what I have read here so far. The extremely bigoted comments of those who should know better, leaders of men blah blah, fly completely in the face of the supposed "EO" service we are supposed to be. But as we are clearly not, it comes as no surprise that "Sid the Sexist" is alive, kicking and commisioned whilst wearing anyone of three uniforms.
Why not live and let live...............or could it be it would harm your carrear prospects
all spelling mistakes are "df" alcohol induced
Is it any wonder we were never welcome in any forward thinking forum with that sort of Neanderthal attitude
As her majesties fineist is dragged into the 90's, kicking and screaming as usual, I am rather embarassed by what I have read here so far. The extremely bigoted comments of those who should know better, leaders of men blah blah, fly completely in the face of the supposed "EO" service we are supposed to be. But as we are clearly not, it comes as no surprise that "Sid the Sexist" is alive, kicking and commisioned whilst wearing anyone of three uniforms.
Why not live and let live...............or could it be it would harm your carrear prospects
all spelling mistakes are "df" alcohol induced
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ABIW
Just confirms my own prejudices- "all students are w***ers unless proved otherwise".
Am I in need of Equal Ops training or should I report to OC Admin for corrective counseling and a discharge?
Just confirms my own prejudices- "all students are w***ers unless proved otherwise".
Am I in need of Equal Ops training or should I report to OC Admin for corrective counseling and a discharge?
Free Man, Not a Number
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Always broken in Wilts - I've read this thread as totally opposite to yourself? IT seems it's the GLB types who won't live and let live and not the UAS ones.
Anyway I like to here about pinkos being beaten at their own game without resorting to being bashed.
Keem 'em coming.
Anyway I like to here about pinkos being beaten at their own game without resorting to being bashed.
Keem 'em coming.