Confronting ‘Lad Culture’ in Higher Education

Kelley Temple, NUS National Women’s Officer7 February 2014

NUS’s responses to ‘lad culture’

• Following the publication on “That’s What She Said”, the NUS conducted a consultation amongst its members to gather examples of actions that had been taken locally

• The consultation and call for evidence received a total of 54 valid respondents; 39 from individuals and 15 from students’ unions

• Examples of ‘lad culture’ on campus were cited as occurring in: extra-curricular activities, social spaces, and learning and teaching and media

Key actions and responses

Zero tolerance policy Advertising campaign Regulation of activities Training Changing democratic structures Policy against certain media Lobbying the university Engagement with night clubs Women in leadership

NUS Scotland

‘I’m not that lad’ campaign

ULU I Heart Consent

Building a National Strategy

• National Summit on ‘lad culture’ 21st of February, gathering student organisations, stakeholders of the feminist movement and professionals of the education sector

• Creating new partnerships, for instance with Laura Bates, founder of the Everyday Sexism project

• Aim to build a steering committee with different stakeholders to evaluate institutions and unions’ progress