Students demand a censor to stop 'insensitive' articles appearing in their university newspaper

Student union bosses at the University of Manchester have demanded articles by their student-run newspaper be vetted by a 'sensitivity reader'.

Sara Khan, the University of Manchester's student union's liberation and access officer, said that such an appointment would ensure funding for the publication in the future.

During the Students' Union Senate meeting on Thursday, she said the publication should ask people for their permission to be written about.

She explained that being written about could 'result in psychological distress, and puts people at risk of being harassed, especially women, who are particularly targeted with death and rape threats through social media,' The Tab reported.

There were many opposed to Ms Khan's view, including the paper's deputy editor Amy Wei who told The Sun: 'The introduction of a sensitivity reader infringes on The Mancunion’s independence, which is protected in the Student Union's by-laws.'

Ms Khan also called for the student newspaper to implement a 45 per cent quota of journalists and staff to come from black, Asian and minority ethnic background to reflect the student population.

'We don't believe that this is malicious or intentional, but that it stems from a lack of diversity in the team, and a lack of training and education,' she said.

Her amendments were voted down, ensuring The Mancunian will continue to funded and run independently for the next three years.

Ms Khan made headlines last year when she lead a vote that banned clapping at the university. Instead it would be replaced with jazz hands, the British Sign Language for clapping and cheers.

She told the BBC that loud noises like clapping could cause issues with to those with autism, sensory issues or deafness.

'I've seen that clapping, whooping, talking over each other, loud noises, encourages an atmosphere that is not as respectful as it could be,' she said.

SOURCE