End of the Lines? More universities ban controversial song

Derby and UWS the latest to ban 'Blurred Lines' on campus

Robin Thicke performing in Cannes (Rex Features)

The Universities of Derby and the West of Scotland (UWS) are the latest student unions to ban Robin Thicke’s controversial Blurred Lines.

These two universities join Edinburgh and Leeds where the hugely successful song has already been banned.

Speaking to the Independent, the president of the University of Derby students union Hollie O’Connor said she felt like student unions across the country were beginning to join together to take a stand against the song.

“It’s all moving so fast now,” she said, explaining her union’s decision banning Thicke’s Blurred Lines.

"We wanted to be part of taking a stand because the song promotes an unacceptable attitude towards women and heavily objectifies them."

The Derby university union president also agreed that the songs theme of sexual consent being a ‘blurred line’ went against union policy, saying: “Students should feel safe and by banning this song I think we’re promoting the idea that this kind of attitude is not acceptable, as well as promoting our student spaces as safe.”

UWS campus president Cal Reid cited similar reasons behind the ban of the song at the Scottish university.

Speaking to the Guardian, Reid said: “The song has been suspended in all student union bars until it is taken to student council for the students to make a final decision."

Thicke has defended his work, labelling accusations of sexism as ‘ridiculous’ in a recent interview in GQ magazine.

The track, which also features Pharrell and T.I. has been a massively commercial success, reaching number one in the UK, the US, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Ireland, Spain, Germany, the Netherlands, and Poland.

Thicke and Pharrell’s collaboration has also become the fastest-selling digital song in history.