Today my University, the University of Liverpool released a statement in regards to the release of a script written by members of it's Medical Society.  The script was crammed full of misogyny, sexism and characters like 'Dr No means No' and 'Mrs. SluttyPenny'.  The University have said;

‘We expect our students to comply with the University’s Policy on Student Conduct and Discipline and adhere to appropriate standards of behaviour. The University, the Guild of Students and the Liverpool Medical Students’ Society are shocked at the content of this material which is clearly unacceptable. ‘The University is investigating.  The University and the Guild will continue to work together in combatting sexism and sexual harassment.’

This isn't the first example of the society producing some pretty horrendous material that I don't even feel comfortable putting on here.  The script is for a show attended by students, doctors and faculty members.  If you clicked the link, you'll be as horrified as I am.

(11/11/14) - Today it has been clarified that three other scripts were entered into a vote to see which should be performed and the 'winner' was a reworking of Mulan which features a 'sexy Geisha dance'.  Further it has been made evident that members of the medical society have been banned from talking with press, though I have seen a tweets which read 'finally the LMSS get the press they deserve #disgusting'.  I fear there is maybe more to come.  

Today also saw the launch of the university-wide 'Call It Out' campaign, a campaign which is addressing both staff and students in an aim to call out on-campus sexism and bring it to an end, which by the looks of it couldn't have come about at a more appropriate time.

I've just returned from a talk by Laura Bates, of the Everyday Sexism Project (website) at the University of Liverpool, which was timed to coincide with the 'Call It Out' campaign.  She was fascinating.  Bates started the project "after a really bad week" in which she really began to note to the public dismissal of sexual assault, particularly after she was groped on a bus.

Some statistics she gave us include that there are more men currently in Parliament than there ever have been women.  That only 15% of commemorative statues are women.  Only 1 in every 5 front page news stories are written by women.  1 in every 3 women will be raped or beaten in her life.

Bates found the campaign skyrocketed unprecedentedly and she received 50,000 submissions in a year.  50,000 different stories of sexual assault and abuse from a mass of different people.  She described a 7 year old disabled girl and a 73 year old disabled woman telling almost identical stories of being screamed at in the street about being "women drivers".  Not only women wrote in, men told stories of being ridiculed for applying for paternity leave.

One thing Bates said really stuck with me.  She said what we are looking at is "Human Rights not Women's Rights".

Only 4% of women who are sexually assaulted whilst in university will report it to their institute.  When asked why they didn't answers included the words 'Shame', 'Embarrassment' and 'Self Blame'.

She highlighted the blame culture we live in, how girls are asked 'Were you drunk?'. 'What were you wearing?' and 'Did you lead him on?' after talking about sexual assault.  How has this become okay?  This trivialises the effect and seriousness of sexual assault.  This is a society who teach to not be raped rather than not to rape.

Bates closed by comparing sexism to climate change.  It's there, and if not everyone tries to fix it, it's not going to be fixed.

There's so much more I have left to say, so keep your eyes peeled for my write up for MyStudentStyle this week.

Here's a petition started by Everyday Sexism Project calling for all political party leaders to 'commit to making sex and relationships education in schools compulsory, to include sexual consent, healthy and respectful relationships, gender stereotypes and online pornography.  I've signed, and I'd like it if you could too.

as the title suggests, I moved.

I wrote two posts ago that I was lucky enough to be accepted into the University of Liverpool to study Communication and Media with Law for the next three years.  I moved here on Sunday after having what in hindsight was one too many in Bridgend town.  Roof, I probably won't miss you.


I got here on Sunday afternoon and moved all of my stuff into my accommodation, The Arch.  It's so lovely from the outside as it's an old hotel in China town.

Unfortunately there's no wifi in the building yet...it's also still in the process of being built (angry face) which means I am awoken at 7am by things like angle grinders and pneumatic drills, and builders shouting at each other.  The novelty wore off pretty quickly and not being able to pick up my phone and check twitter/facebook/sky news is getting boring, although I've played a lot of sims.  Luckily I have been blessed with nice flatmates who introduce me to their friends meaning I am not facing the wifi-less building site alone.

I haven't done a lot so far, when my Dad dropped me off we went for dinner at Salt House Tapas Bar, which was DELICIOUS, I had patatas bravas, chorizo and a cured meat plate with ice cold, glass bottle diet coke (the best kind).  Over the last few nights I have ventured down to Liverpool One, the shopping centre and I popped into Tesco Express to pick some essentials like wine and cookies.


Tonight the plan is to go out to Levels, a new club in Liverpool, and tomorrow I'm visiting Rachael over in Manchester.

Alas, I should probably leave Starbucks now as I have overstayed my welcome and used more than my fair share of free wifi.

Toodles!

p.s. I had the lovelist leaving gifts of my places of work!

Yesterday, August 14th 2014 was A-level results day.  It finally came around, out of nowhere.  As if by magic.

I stayed up until the early hours unable to sleep due to nerves before drifting off for a few hours, eventually being rudely awoken by my 'GET SOME COFFEE DOWN YOU' alarm and frantic texts asking 'ellie, are you in??'.  I logged on to UCAS track (for which I had forgotten my ID) and saw to my utter shock and delight the University of Liverpool had changed my conditional offer to an unconditional.  An unconditional offer.  From my dream university.  To study Communication and Media, something I am utterly passionate about.  I'm still shocked.

I went to school to find my actual grades, which in theory didn't matter, and in all honesty I was disappointed.  I've got a cheek to say it and I won't dwell, but y'know!!

So what happens next?  It's time to pack.  I had some bits and bobs for my birthday...

I have grey and turquoise towels, bath matts and flannels; notebooks upon notebooks upon notebooks; the cutest bedspread EVER with polka dots on one side and flowers on the other and white, turquoise and pink candles (which I can't actually use in my uni room...decorative?)

A hanging photo frame set made of three floral hearts; turquoise and pink glasses; a motivational quote jar from my good pal Sophie; and the cutest yellow Bombay Duck teacup and saucer.  

There's not much more I need, I have my hair dryer, straighteners and curlers, my laundry bin, my clock and my 'Ultimate Guide to University'.  

Seeing as we're building a house - see HERE for our blog on that - I have to pack my whole room up as I won't be coming home to this house, I'll be coming home to the new house.  That is a whole new level of excitement, uni and a new house with the most gorgeous bedroom.  As if that's not exciting enough I have an interview with 'Americamp' next week to be a camp counsellor in a summer camp next year.  Everything is very much a-go.  I almost think Freshers will be calm in comparison.  Almost.

On the subject of Freshers - who's DJing at mine? BASSHUNTER.  WHOOOOOO? How bizarre.  I want to go to say I have.  There's also DJ Fresh who I've seen and is incredible, Huw Stephens off Radio 1, Fuse ODG, Zane Lowe, Russell Kane and Lower Than Atlantis.  Alongside that there are freshers events in places like Revs for all of the Liverpool universities (there seems to be, like, 4567887654 of them).  

So it's going to be a busy month.  With West Side Story, work, Americamp interview, Reading Festival, packing my room and for uni, leaving work and moving. I'm so excited.

Over'n'out - I'm going to grown up things like clean a bathroom and then go see The Performance House's 'The Tempest'.