Grotty Gotti at it again

DJs at the popular Thursday night club event ‘Drop the Bomb’ have once again come under fire for inappropriate behaviour after a recent incident saw students encouraged to kiss a friend of the DJ who was simply referred to as “the virgin.”

One of the Tokyo DJs encouraged clubgoers to “get off with” another student who the DJ described as both his friend and a virgin. He offered free tickets to the Tokyo Pendulum Lovedough night in exchange.

Students of both sexes were involved and ultimately even the man being kissed by contestants appeared to be embarrassed. One student initially refused to participate and was then verbally abused by the DJ until he agreed to take part.

The incident is the latest in a string of incidents to occur at Tokyo’s student night. Since the club, formerly Tru, was taken over by Tokyo Industries in the summer, the lewd behaviour initiated and encouraged by the DJs has frequently been a topic of debate and disgust.

In February, DJ Gotti encouraged six initially unwilling participants to engage in an on-stage sex game in which couples would have to enact positions such as the ’69’ and the ‘wheelbarrow’. In December 2010, two male contestants were asked to show the audience a ‘mangina’ in exchange for a bottle of champagne. Many students have criticised the behaviour of the DJs for being inappropriate and for taking advantage of drunken students.

One of the students in question, who wished to remain anonymous, commented: “It was embarrassing and degrading, I didn’t even use the Pendulum tickets in the end as I couldn’t face the abuse from friends.”

A first year Law student described the behaviour of the DJ in question as “derogatory and inappropriate.” She went on to say that she “was here at the Christmas party when they got the guys to strip off on stage. I thought that was exploiting their state and I left early that night.

“I did the same tonight and this time I won’t be returning. I prefer the YUSU nights where everyone enjoys themselves, rather than laughing at a peer’s expense.”

Gotti is a popular DJ over the clubbing season in Magaluf, Mallorca, a hotspot for student holidaying and licentious behaviour. On his Myspace page he refers to himself as “creating the holiday vibe back in the UK,” and describes games played in a bar he once worked in, such as “flaming arseholes,” and “who’s your daddy.”

His profile also shows photos of half naked women kissing and an image of a man completely naked with a flaming rag between his buttocks, both taken on-stage.

In the past, freelance photographers at Vodka Revolution, Club Salvation and Tokyo have all been accused of offering alcohol to girls in exchange for photos of them kissing, although Vision has received a far higher number of complaints with regard to Tokyo. Once again, the nightclub was unavailable for comment on the subject, as has repeatedly been the case in the past when Vision has made attempts to allow the club to explain the behaviour of their employees and associates.

YUSU Democracy & Services Officer Dan Walker told Vision that he frequently takes student comments regarding inappropriate behaviour. He explained that many DJs of student nights seemed unaware when approached by YUSU that their behaviour was strange, but did say that “we are lucky to have an open dialogue with our nightclubs; when we tell them they listen.”

Walker also pointed out that, as student club night contracts are due for renewal, he was looking into the possibility of holding “consultation surgeries” with all students regarding all YUSU-affiliated clubs, in order to improve satisfaction levels.