A rugby union social event has led to an investigation by UCLan’s Students’ Union following a complaint of racism.
An offended student – who wishes to remain anonymous – contacted the university after seeing the rugby players wearing dark face paint, designed to portray them as Jamaican.
The student confronted the group during their social event in a bar off campus to express disgust at the group’s attire, and was “flabbergasted” when told it had been “taken it the wrong way.”
The student said that it was “outrageous that this even had to be discussed in 2011,” drawing comparisons to the process of “blacking up, used in late 19th and early 20th century theatre as a form of social discrimination.”
The members of the rugby union team had dressed up to participate in a “treasure hunt” around the city centre. The event, organised by the team’s social secretary Brad Tuff, also involved players dressed as Scottish, Australian and French people.
The fourth group’s attire was an idea apparently formulated by a black member of the rugby union team, in reference to the Jamaican bobsled team who participated in the 1988 Winter Olympic Games.
Following the 1993 film “Cool Runnings,” based on the Jamaican bobsled team, they became part of popular culture and the attire was meant as an iconic reference to this with “no offence meant,” according to Brad Tuff.
He also stated the men’s rugby union team were “not a racist club” and said the team has a multicultural membership including players who are black, Fijian and Asian.
Following the student’s complaint, an investigation was launched by the Students’ Union activities and participation officer (APO) Ross Herridge to determine whether the rugby union team’s actions were deliberately offensive.
A meeting was called between both parties on in order for the student to convey why they were offended, and for the teams chairman, social secretary and captain to apologise formally on behalf of the team.
Following the discussion, the offended student said: “I am relieved the situation had been resolved. The team were very apologetic and realised the gravity of their action.”
The student also stated their belief that the social event and attire was “very on the edge” and said to the team that their attire could have also offended others, describing the whole situation as “wandering into troubled waters.”
The team’s social secretary Brad Tuff said: “As a team we were a bit naive, we made a mistake and were aware of this now.
“No offence was meant and we apologise to those who were offended and felt our actions were inappropriate.”
The Students’ Union APO Ross Herridge said: “The meeting went well. A misunderstanding between the student and the team has occurred; they have met up and solved the issue between them. The university will not be taking the issue any further as both parties are happy that the issue has been resolved.”
The men’s rugby union team at UCLan are famed for fancy dress during their social events, having previously dressed as Robin Hood and his merry men and many more comical outfits.
The university has in the past investigated similar complaints filed by offended students due to fancy dress, the most significant being a student dressed as missing child Madeline McCann last year, which resulted in serious disciplinary action against the student.
