Student sex survey pulled
A survey of student attitudes to sex, carried out by the UEA’s student newspaper, Concrete, has been halted by their union.
The Union of UEA Students have defended the move.
Concrete’s Sex Survey is an annual questionnaire run by the student newspaper. Answers are submitted online, using a Union survey account. But after the newspaper went to print yesterday – with the survey on their front page - the Union withdrew the link. Concrete’s editor, Danny Collins said he couldn’t understand why: “The Sex Survey has been part of Concrete for the past 10 years or so. It’s normally our most popular issue. It’s not particularly scandalous.”
The Union has explained its actions, arguing the survey needs to be approved by the University’s Research Ethics Committee. Dan Youmans, Community and Student Rights Officer, said: ’The Concrete Sex Survey can be a really good, fun way to get people to talk about sex. But it’s also important that surveys meet certain criteria, like being anonymous, and treating respondents with respect, that are best assessed by an ethics committee. Although I recognise the decision to remove it was contentious, the Union had to prioritise student welfare above all else.”
He added: “The Union looks forward to working with Concrete in steering the survey through the approval process, and promoting it when it’s active again.”
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