Sex, drugs and ... drinking games?

Those three topics, subjects of a Western University student newspaper guide for first-year students, have several organizations calling for an apology and retraction.

One local activist is even calling for the resignation of The Gazette’s editor-in-chief after 3,000 copies of the paper’s annual Frosh issue hit the streets last week.

The issue includes an article headlined So you want to date a teaching assistant.

“When I read it, I was completely disgusted,” said Kevin Godbout, president of the Society of Graduate Students that represents teaching assistants.

“It’s basically a step-by-step guide to how to stalk and sexually harass a graduate student,” he said.

“There are graduate students that have been sexually harassed in their role as teaching assistants, and this could act as a trigger for them. They aren’t there to be objects of desire. They’re teachers.”

Over the weekend, a Twitter storm erupted, with teaching assistants condemning the piece and Megan Walker, executive director of the London Abused Women’s Centre, calling for the resignation of Gazette editor-in-chief Iain Boekhoff.

“When I heard that, I had to read the piece to make sure I hadn’t missed something. I don’t see anything wrong with the piece,” he said.

The Frosh issue is supposed to introduce first-year students to campus. It’s an “informative, entertaining and lighthearted” look at life at Western, Boekhoff said.

“The general reaction (to the issue) was positive.”

The Gazette is published by the University Student Council but maintains editorial autonomy.

Two other articles in the Frosh issue also are making waves. One is about a drinking game during orientation weekthat’s officially alcohol-free. The second describesdrugs first-years might encounter on campus, from marijuana and cocaine to ecstasy and magic mushrooms.

“I am appalled by the lack of judgment shown by the editor-in-chief in allowing these articles to be published. Two of the three articles promote drug and alcohol use, while the third is sexist and creates a climate of harassment,” Walker wrote to Western president Amit Chakma, the president of the Western student council and Boekhoff.

Janice Deakin, Western’s provost and vice-president (academic), also wrote a letter to The Gazette saying she was disappointed with the teaching assistant article.

Boekhoff stands by the three stories and the issue.

“The fact that this article touched a nerve about sexual harassment of (teaching assistants) proves that this is something that we have to talk about, that there are larger issues that need to be explored. But the article itself does nothing to promote sexual harassment.”

Kate.dubinski@sunmedia.ca

Twitter.com/KateatLFPress

WHAT THEY SAID

“The time is long past when these kinds of articles can be defended as being either satire or humorous.”

Janice Deakin, Western’s provost and vice-president (academic), in a letter to The Gazette

“It’s basically a step-by-step guide to how to stalk and sexually harass a graduate student.”

Kevin Godbout, president of the Society of Graduate Students

“I’m sorry people are offended, but Western does not and should not have any authority over The Gazette.... It’s our responsibility as a student newspaper to question authority and engage in thoughtful debate.”

Gazette editor-in-chief Iain Boekhoff

WHAT ALL THE FUSS IS ABOUT