Don’t miss the latest developments in business and finance.

Oxford college in 'dirty protest' over unisex toilets

Image
Press Trust of India London
Last Updated : May 06 2018 | 4:50 PM IST

An Oxford University college has become the scene of a so-called "dirty protest" after it introduced gender-neutral toilets recently.

Male students of Somerville College reportedly urinated on the floor of the "gender-neutral" cubicles in the college bar last week and wrote on the wall: "We want our... urinals back," according to an email sent by the president of the junior common room, Niall Macklin.

Somerville students voted in January to replace "male" and "female" signs with the words "gender-neutral toilets with cubicles". The lavatories in question no longer feature urinals but have cubicles with male and female symbols, according to The Sunday Times.

In a message entitled "I can't believe I am writing this", Macklin wrote: "Someone took it upon themselves to urinate on the floor of one of the cubicles and inscribe 'We want our... urinals back'. If you have a problem with the changes, please use the democratic process and not dirty protests.

"Otherwise if you could refrain from being a barbaric idiot that would be great."
Somerville College said it had warned students that "vandalism" would not be tolerated, adding, "We expect all college members to treat each other with respect."

Also Read

First Published: May 06 2018 | 4:50 PM IST

Next Story