The Sheffield Students’ Union’s council has voted in a meeting on December 7th to allow all students to have their nipples visible on nights out in the Students’ Union building.
The policy was proposed by Disabled Student’s Officer Laura Edwards.
Edwards explained: “I knew that when I got this job a while ago I wanted to submit a policy like this.”
Edwards explained she decided to submit the policy earlier than initially intended due to a specific incident at an event she had attended.
She said: “I was wearing an outfit where my nipples were visible. I was taken away by two security guards and was told to cover up.
“But at the same time I looked to the side and saw a male presenting student with their shirt off and no one was saying anything.
“So then I swapped my outfit with my male friend and he was allowed to wear it but I was not.”
Grace Clifford, English Department SU Council Representative, raised the question if the policy would include Pole Society, Drag Society and Burlesque Society.
Edwards replied in the meeting, saying she was “passionate to extend this to them as well.”
Edwards said: “I’ve already had students coming up to me and thanking me for the policy.
“I think it’s an important conversation that needs to be had and I think a lot of the time people just accept in society feminine-presenting people cannot have their nipples out because they’re sexualised and society has just accepted it and that’s how we have to live.”
“The SU plans to ensure security services are equipped with safety procedures that will allow students to feel comfortable on a night out if they have their nipples visible.”
