Sexism and bullying row at Imperial College over article targeting Union president

Imperial College is embroiled in a sexism and bullying row amid claims its Union president was unfairly “trolled” in an irreverent publication.

Lucinda Jane Sandon-Allum, 21, a biological sciences graduate, branded the article in the university’s charity society magazine as “bullying”.

The 16-page handout mainly features adverts for fundraising events but also includes a number of pages of “satire”. The offending piece is understood to be a spoof diary entry written from Ms Sandon-Allum’s perspective, and includes a reference to her murder.

Five hundred copies of the magazine were given out on campus. The Union has strongly advised the society, known as RAG, to dispose of the remaining 1,600 and apologise to those affected as it was said to be “beyond the acceptable bounds of satire or mockery”.

RAG was also reportedly warned that the authors could face serious consequences from Imperial if they continued to distribute the magazine.

Critics said the move was censorship and an attack on free speech, while the Union’s own feminist society said it did not consider the piece to be sexist.

Ms Sandon-Allum, from Poole, Dorset, wrote in the official Imperial College student newspaper FELIX: “We must stop this culture that accepts bullying, accepts fewer women leaders, and dresses up personal attacks as ‘tradition’ or ‘satire’.

"It is not acceptable for an article to be written to target an individual’s personal life, and even more so depicting someone’s murder.”

She added: “I know that the majority of Imperial students have no time for bullying, tasteless personal attacks, and gendered stereotypes masked as ‘banter’.”

The article’s author told FELIX the Union’s response was “absurd”, adding: “I hope the Union’s attempts to withdraw all copies of the uncensored version will not be successful.”

RAG said its magazine was designed to be “funny but controversial”, adding: “In the past it’s made fun of natural disasters and human tragedies, this year the call was made to print a satirical piece about Lucinda, as such the Union feels that this overstepped the mark.”

Alexander McKee, the Union’s interim managing director, said it had responded to students’ concerns about the magazine and RAG had apologised. Imperial declined to comment.