FitFinder, the popular student-run website has been taken down following complaints from several universities. One of the reasons given is that it provides too much of a distraction for students studying in the library.
The website, launched last month by UCL Computer Science student Rich Martell, had received over 5 million hits in the past 4 weeks. The idea is that students can post descriptions of “fitties” they have seen around campus in hopes of getting their attention. Since its inception over 50 universities, including York, have joined in on the fun.
However, Martell recently posted a message on the website stating they have been under immense pressure from universities to take it down.
”We have decided to remove FitFinder, but we hope this is only temporary”. The founder also urged fans of the website to sign a petition to bring FitFinder back online, ”so we can be a nation of fitties once again”. The petition currently boasts over 1200 signatures and is increasing exponentially.
Speaking to Vision, Martell says that a number of universities have approached him about shutting down the site, though he would not like to single out any specific ones.
“As you may have read, I was fined by UCL for bringing the university into disrepute and the LSE have also been quoted in the Times saying they do not like it and that it should be shut down.”
“I am personally conscious that my degree could be put in doubt if the site remains up. I’ll leave you to speculate on what that means but I have been told that a disciplinary panel is a very real option in which case a punishment such as expulsion would not be out of the question.”
Despite this, Martell stresses that a more developed website will be back as soon as possible. Furthermore, he says that they are also looking to bring FitFinder to people via apps on mobile devices and across music festivals over the summer.
“I think it’s ridiculous that they’ve removed the site. The comments are anonymous and not meant in a derogatory way. It’s just a part of student life,” said 1st-year English Language, Literature and Education student Hannah Lyon.
YUSU Welfare Officer, Ben Humphrys, has previously commented that he finds the concept ”bizarre” and that it’s “slightly creepy, it reminds me most of secondary school kids perving on classmates and teachers.”
It is unclear whether or not the University of York has been part of the pressure group to have the website removed. At the time of writing the press office were unavailable for comment.
Following a comment piece in the last edition of Vision, which was one of the only pieces written which defended the site, long-time columnist and TV editor Scott Bryan was personally approached by Martell to lead the campaign to get FitFinder back online.
The comment piece is available here and you can join the Facebook campaigns group here.
JOIN THE GROUP. SAVE FITFINDER: http://tinyurl.com/32rv3f7
Love Scotty
x
Just an update. The website has had more than 600 members in 24 hours, and it keeps on rising!
Surely this site will return and just be hosted somewhere else – check my blog on it – http://robgreenhalgh.wordpress.com/2010/05/31/universities-force-closure-of-fitfinder/
The site now has more than 1600 members, and the protest group has 5000.
This site needs to return.. UCL has shot themselves in the foot big time.
Possibly expect some sexyness in The Yorkshire Post tomoz.
“The petition currently boasts over 1200 signatures and is increasing exponentially”
unless every single one of those 1200 gave birth to a child who also signed the petition I cannot see how the numbers of signatures could be increasing exponentially. Particularly as most of them will be men. also, why do they care: surely you can acquire your lathering at the mouth, misogynist bastard fix at truelad.com?
Uni’s can close fit finder, im sure far more time is wasted on facebook!!
It’s a real shame that thefitfinder is down but I’ve found a pretty cool alternative called http://www.spotacutie.co.uk which even allows pictures!
Twitter.