► Stamp it out

Stamp it Out

Uog’s su has got four main campaigns this year, and at Space we thought for your first issue back we would focus on Stamp It Out – and who better to tell us all about it than Ally Campbell your Ed & Welfare Officer

What is Stamp it Out?

Stamp It Out is a welfare campaign that has been in uog for a few years now. I was not involved in the original launch, which identifies the campaign as eradicating bullying, harassment and peer-pressure. In light of some shocking behaviours observed within some sports teams over the past few years (for example, initiations in 2008 and striping in 2010) myself and Andy Lewis (Sports Officer) agreed a new campaign, a change campaign, was needed - and so Stamp It Out was relaunched.

What is the key ethos of Stamp it Out?

Stamp It Out: Say No To Stripes is a focused change campaign, educating students about the reality of striping and the real consequences of their actions. As well as risking disbandment of the team or lifetime bans from union sport, and putting su sport at risk of being taken over by the university, striping puts students at personal risk. Injury and illness are common, but other consequences include

Criminal records along with fines or jail terms, which in turn can greatly limit your career choices and life beyond university. Stamp It Out: Say No To Stripes carries the tagline ‘enjoy your sport, enjoy your socials, enjoy yourself’ to highlight that this campaign does not aim to prevent students having fun, but wants students to learn that there is a point at which fun becomes criminal behaviour, becomes sexually humiliating, even becomes deadly.

How do you think that Stamp it Out is going to help students?/

How is it going to combat behaviour?

Stamp It Out: Say No To Stripes aims to expose the dangerous culture of striping, leading to a safer and more inclusive sporting community. The campaign logo will be displayed on all team stash and all minisites, and will become ingrained into sport culture by partnering the campaign with Blue&Blue clubnight through joint wristbands (50p from your su) and an updated handstamp upon entry to moomoo to remind all attending of the dangers of striping. Club Captains were also given an introduction to Stamp It Out: Say No To Stripes by su President Chris Rogers as part of their compulsory three-day training.

How is Stamp it Out going to create better

relations between students and the media?

By actively campaigning for change and by actually delivering change, the su hopes media focus on our sports teams will shift from anti-social behaviours and drunken life-changing actions towards the successes of our teams - the things that should be covered by the media! The achievements of our sports teams are incredible - frequently beating better funded and larger university teams at bucs, and winning Varsity for the last four years! This is what our sports teams should be known for, and this is what our students should be associated with when a potential employer reads ‘University of Gloucestershire’ on their cv, and this is the change Stamp It Out hopes to deliver.

How can students get involved in Stamp it Out?

By acknowledging the dangerous and destructive nature of striping, and dis-allowing it within their sports club, society or friendship group. By respecting students who say no, and having the courage to say no themselves. By purchasing a sio/Blu&Blue wristband for only 50p from any su office. By using the sio vouchers in su offices for Glamourpuss or Blue&Blue tickets for only £2 in October (when purchased from an su office in advance). By supporting Stamp It Out events throughout the year (to be confirmed). By living the change that su sport needs to survive, and that uog students need to be credible and respectable graduates.