Kinky York students may get the chance to explore their sexual ‘dark side’ in a newly proposed Fetish Society – if YUSU ratifies the controversial proposition.
Founder David*, a first year Archaeology student who will initially run FetSoc with two other female officers, spoke to Vision about his intent when forming the society.
“I come from much more cosmopolitan places like London and Hong Kong, and I wanted to bring some of that to York […] I’ve been part of the fetish scene myself for a few years now, and wanted to see if I could give students in York the opportunity.”
He claimed to already have over twenty interested people signed up on the society’s mailing list after placing adverts around campus.
David also dismissed any “uninformed” concerns that FetSoc would be an organised “sex orgy”.
“There will be the chance to try things out, and experiment with equipment, but only with safety and consent – we will not just pair up or have sex parties.”
He clarified how the society will be based around two distinct participatory strands – ‘vanilla’ meetings, for those who generally only engage in non-‘kink’ sex but are interested in fetish, alongside workshops where members will be able to actively use equipment to fulfil their sexual fantasies.
Fetish groups generally practice BDSM (bondage, discipline and sadomasochism) in safe environments, with those involved consisting of ‘dominants’ and ‘subs’ and typical equipment used including whips, gimp suits and harnesses. However, most fetish groups are open to any sexual ‘kink’ a participant wants to try out – something David wants to ensure happens in the University of York society, safety allowing.
The new society will also aim to be part of the wider fetish scene in York. Popular groups in the city including YorkMunch, a group which claims on its website to have around forty regular attendees, offering the chance to explore your kinky side in a carefully set up ‘dungeon’ environment.
Currently, however, FetSoc organisers face a stumbling block over YUSU ratification. David submitted the application for the new society on the 11th January 2012 and was expecting a decision before the end of the month. However, a conclusive decision has not yet been reached by YUSU.
Concerns were raised over possible controversial issues that could arise, such as problems over health and safety, pressurised participation and the legality of possible mass sexual activity on University owned grounds.
Without ratification, the society will find it hard to book university spaces for meetings, will lose the vital promotional spot at the YUSU society fairs in October and January each year and will not receive YUSU funding, making its set-up difficult.
The York fetish enthusiasts will however be hopeful in light of the story of the popular Student Guild endorsed University of Birmingham Fetish Society, which has over fifty active members and a busy schedule.
Furthermore, James Croydon, YUSU Student Activities Officer, with responsibility for overseeing societies, exclusively revealed to Vision that the “FetSoc delay […] is due to us needing to double check any potential licensing issues that might arise should the society wish to hold events on campus. Following a further clarification of their activities, it is likely that this society will be ratified.”
After discussions with the YUSU legal officer, David hopes that the society will be ratified and members can begin meetings exploring their kinky side by the end of Week Six, depending on YUSU’s final decision.
* The founder’s name has been changed on the online version of this article for reasons of confidentiality.
This is disgusting, but might at least help York up the University sex rankings
You know what you can do about “disgusting things”? Not partake in them.
Thankfully we don’t live in a state where one persons arbitrary morality dictates the behaviour of others, students are over 18 and if you can’t fathom that as adults we can do pretty much whatever we like that’s within the law then I think you don’t understand the fundamental concept of liberty and why this is a desirable thing.
Yet if morality is so arbitrary (basically meaning subjective) does she not have her write to suggest that it is disgusting from his/her point of view. Who has decided morality is arbitrary anyways, from my understanding it is a topic that is particularly contentious in the world of philosophy anyways, particularly since relativism (which is basically what you are arguing for Maud, is inherently self contradictory). I am not casting my vote one way or the other for the purpose of this discussion, but you would seem to be just as guilty as the first person. What kind of world would this be if we could not suggest our moral viewpoints anyways.
Personally I have a problem with fetishes and the like as I think they celebrate things that bear a striking resemblance to actions commonly associated with rape (yes I understand one is consensual and the other is not, but do we really want to promote the practice of dominance, bondage and the like in sex). Anyways I am glad I am not making the decision about the go ahead with the committee, as it would seem to be a particularly contentious decision. Peace.
I’m not a philosopher, so if you’ll excuse my somewhat lax standard of argument..
By example; people have vastly differing ideas of what morality is, while there may be some common intersection it’s by no means universal and certainly when it comes to issues like BDSM restricting moralistic ideas away from basic foundations of our society such as the fact that theft and murder are unethical the moralism that remains is most definitely arbitrary as observed by the complete lack of consensus.
Were there a universal morality beyond mere social constructs you’d think it would have more consistency?
I’ve always personally drawn a distinction between ethical objections to acts where someone suffers and moral objections where objections are raised by one group over what another group of consenting adults enjoy even if they make me uncomfortable.
If you think that the BDSM scene glorifies rape I’d really heavily suggest you attend a social event, either fetsoc or a local munch and see for yourself just how seriously consent is taken, we absolutely do not abide those who do not take consent entirely seriously within our community.
Your use of the word “promote” there raises alarm bells with me, do you think that LGBT “promotes” homosexuality? That was the common objection years ago. People are kinky, they have kinky sex and I think we’re all better off if we can talk about it and educate ourselves about it so that any potential harm is reduced.
I posted what I did only partly in response to Bonerkill but mostly due to the small contingent of anti-fetsoc types who are kicking up a rather inconsequential fuss over this. I absolutely support her/his right to post his/her view, I just reserve me right to make the point I wanted to response!