A LINE HAS been drawn at Queens University Belfast with the banning of a hugely popular – and massively controversial – pop song.
Blurred Lines, by Robin Thicke, will no longer be allowed to be played throughout the Students Union at Queens, including all bar/club venues, Queen’s Radio, cafés, Clubs and Societies events, external events and within commercial outlets.
The ban even extends to when the song is played on external radio stations, with an order that the station must be “changed immediately”.
The motion was put forward by Student Officer Equality and Diversity, Caoimhe McNeill. She said during the most recent student council meeting that over 20 Students’ Unions have removed this song from their playlists.
She described banning Blurred Lines as “a step in a right direction to make sure SU members feel safe on campus”.
One person who spoke against the motion was Eoin Deeney, who said that he thought the premise was flawed and that it is “tantamount to censorship”. He also pointed out that there are “millions of other songs” with such connotations.
The lyrics to the song were discussed by the Students’ Union council members. Some said that they thought publicising banning the song would make people think about Robin Thicke’s “message”. McNeill said the issue is not one of censorship.
The motion went to a vote and was passed. The Belfast Telegraph notes that 26 were in favour of the motion, while 22 student council members were against.
Thicke has been accused of promoting rape culture through the lyrics of the track, but he has denied suggestions that Blurred Lines is offensive or misogynistic.
Do you think that Blurred Lines should be banned from students’ unions?
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