The National Union of Students has called for ‘lads’ mags’ to be put behind the counter, calling them ‘demeaning to women’.
The NUS criticised the ‘overtly sexual’ front pages of the magazines, and has called on students’ unions to take titles such as Nuts and Zoo off their shelves.
But not all students support the move. Leicester’s The Ripple student newspaper is leading a campaign against the voluntary ban, and has gathered more than 200 signatures in an online petition.
Tom Goodwyn, editor of the paper, said campus outlets should be able to stock the magazines where they want. He said: “Having to buy them from behind the counter is a bit dirty old man-ish.”
Leicester Students’ Union defended their decision to move lad’s mags off the shelves.
Vice-President Aaron Porter said: “We appreciate it is exceptionally difficult to draw the line, but felt that we had struck a fair balance… our decision was overwhelmingly supported by Union Council, the governing body of the Students’ Union.”
Earlier this year, new guidelines were drawn up between the National Federation of Retail Newsagents and the Home Office.
They advise that magazines with sexual content should be displayed out of the sight of children, but are not legally binding.
Labour MP Claire Curtis-Thomas introduced a Bill calling for magazines such as Nuts, Zoo and FHM to be confined to the top shelf in the Commons in July.
Kat Stark, NUS national women’s officer, said: “Ultimately, unions adopting the policy is voluntary.
However, the NUS is pleased to report that a few unions have already made the move.”
