I Will Sue Leeds Student' Storms College Director
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LEEDS STU EN INDEPENDENT NEWSPAPER Music College gags Lesbian and Gay Soc Mr Joseph Stones, Director of Leeds City College of a result the director had re- Music has threatened to sue Leeds Student for libel ceived letters of protest about concerning a letter printed in last week's edition which his (Stones) activities. "He had about five or six of `I will sue claimed that he had tried to stop the College's Gay and these letters in his hand when I Lesbian Society operating, which has been approved by saw him." Spendlove ex- the Union's constitution. plained. "He shook them at me In a phone call to Leeds Stu- and said he didn't want to see Leeds Student' dent offices on Tuesday night, Report any more of this kind of thing." Stones expressed his anger at by At the meeting Spcndlove's the fetter. written by Madeline John Rigby own course tutor Graham Holloway and Clive Spendlove. Wade hacked up Stones' storms College Treasurer and Chair respective- hian Soc would he disbanded. accusations despite having no ly of the society which he Stones told Mills that "if they real knowledge of them. Spend- claims contains falsehoods. (the society) want to get in love was also not allowed to The letter described a meet- touch with each other I'll send have a representative of the Director Joseph ing which Stones had with stu- them a note." Union present as a witness as dents in December in which he Clive Spendlove, Chair of the he had request." was alleged to have said that the Gay and Lesbian Sue was In the letter published last any such society would a) of- called to a meeting with Stones week the society also accused fend some parents because at four o'clock on Tuesday Stones of authorising members Stones minors frequently visited the afternoon. of his staff to remove notices have to see where the College Hine Stones said. "You can't College for music lessons and "lie accused me of putting up advertising the Gay and Les- stand on this. I don't want any the principal of a college see the notice hoards advertis- notices advertising the society bian Soc. Leeds Student con- dealings with your lot." to comply with a request like ing the society. h) influence when in fact it was Madeline fronted Bob Peel, a technician Devite repeated attempts to that." lie vent tin to say, "As those who were unsure of their Holloway who did so." Spend- at the college who confirmed talk to Mr Stones he refused to la as I'm concerned the m.tuer own sexuality. c) encourage love said. that he had been authorised comment. He requested photo- is subjudicc and it has gone to a `goings-on' in the toilets which "lie also said that he knew I and he had removed notices. copies of the article in the paper higher committee." had occurred in previous years, was a member of Gay Switch- He then blurted out "I don't and other documents bctorc he Members of the LCCM Un- and d) encourage the spread of board but I have never been." know why you're questioning was prepared to make state- ion that were spoken to. agreed AI DS. Spendlove said that he and me. If you print that T said that, ment. and even then it would that they thought Joseph Stones Richard Mills, President of Madeline Holloway leafleted I will get you." When asked if only he a written one. When had some kind of "sttangehold" LCCM Exec confirmed that people about their plight at the this meant he would be suemg asked if he could spare five on the College and that he was Stones had told him in Novem- Clause 28 march in Leeds last Leeds Student if his admission minutes to answer some verbal determined to put up a "wall of ber 1987 that the Gay and Les- Saturday (March 5) and that as was printed, Peel said, "I'll questions which would save silence" on this issue. 3,000 march for gay rights Between 3,000 and 5.000 people formed a colourful and vociferous And he went on to warn of procession through the centre of Leeds last Saturday, to demons- further measures the govern- trate against Clause 29 of the local government finance Bill which ment might impose. sets out to ban the 'promotion' of homosexuality by local councils. Clause 29 is frightening And further demos are plan- crowd passed before he was - enough. but what is even more ned over the coming weeks in cautioned by police. Other peo- frightening is what may come in Sheffield, Newcastle and Lon- pie also received cautions. the future if it succeeds." he don. The Bill, which started life After a circuit of the town as Clause 27 has progressively continued. centre. the chanting and singing The organisers were pleased moved down the order paper to crowd went to Woodhouse with the turn-out, particularly its present position of 29. as it Moor. where they were addres- as Leeds is rarely host to good has gone through the commit- sed by Peter Tatchell who demo,. tee stage. affirmed his opposition to the But the possible divertionary "Leafs isn't a great place for Bill. administrative tactics did not marches walk. so it's especially put off any of the demonstra- "Clause 29 whatever the guy- good that we have such a strong tors who braved the cold and ernment might say. is a fun- lesbian and gay presence," said intermittent snow to get their damental assault upon the civil David Crellm. Chair of LUU message across to the large liberties of lesbian and gay men Lesbian and Gay Soc. number of bystanders, as they in this country. Information on further pro- brought the city to a standstill. "It is a violation of the civil tests against Clause 29 can he Some spectators threw abuse rights of five million homoscx- obtained from student unions. hack at the procession. and one ual people in Britain today.- he man gave a Nazi salute as the said. , — Jay Rayner Depression ARTS MUSIC The Final Whistle - The Downward SINISTER Wild Swans Non-competitive Spiral sport INSIDE pages 8 and 13 Cinema interview Page 2 Lit olizate Theatre Company Present THE BRITISH PREMIERE OF NEWS Students join in for 1113 R 211.. Women's Week festivities Henrik Ibsen's A Doll's House in a stage version by INGMAR BERGMAN as • The festivities for International Women's Week at LUU were described 'really successful' by Women's Affairs Officer Racel Taylor. Pictured - visitors inspecting the handicraft fair in the Riley Smith Hall MARCH 10 to MARCH 26 `No Platform' stays Tues - Sat at 7.45 pm. Speakers considered 'fascist or racist' issue was one of "maintaining order" Tickets £2 - will continue to be denied a platform in and not of inhibiting freedom of speech, Leeds University and Polytechnic. adding, however, that a policy of "No This is despite the threat of a new platform" would be followed regarding HARROGATE clause being inserted into the GERBill, racist speakers. to strengthen the law obliging universi- Ms Varney, meanwhile, backed up lies and polytechnics to guarantee visit- NUS President Vicky Phillips' recent THEATRE ing speakers freedom of speech. claim, that Conservative students were "We have an agreement with the Uni- deliberately inviting controversial speak- versity which allows us to bar speakers ers on to campus to "test the free speech who could 'create a disturbance',” ex- legislation and stir up dissent." A BOX OFFICE ■0-1.1.ii i02.116 plained Germaine Varney. "Leeds University is one of the prime "It can he invoked even if this clause is targets of the Conservative College successful." Forum." continued Ms Varney. ••Leeds Polytechnic has a similar poli- If new legislation is introduced, "If prob- , • • cy." added Poly President Ed Gamble. could obviously cause considerable • , -We want to avoid people getting hurt." lems for other colleges." • • . lie was at pains to point out that the I I indpul Mai • • • . • • Gerbil) amendment • :: • • „• to threaten NUS? • • • • .• • • • The NUS affiliation process is again the most damaging element of CiERBill • .• ••9 • • .. • under threat by a new ammendment to yet. and considered it a misinformed • ,•• • • • • • • • the GERBiII. and miscomprehension of the true facts. • • : • * • . • • • Tory Right-Winger Tim Janman MP, "The NUS is not a closed shop," she • ..: • :: 6. • who is sponsoring the amendment, said, "students vote to remain members • ,y1 • /A ff(671/ intends to introduce a system whereby or disaffiliate. Al the moment the Un- .:•. the NUS will have to ask each individual ion services are all easily available. student to join. There are already 240 Under the new system. massively ex- signatures on the amendment, including pensive and bureaucratic proeesss LOMER' AkICA4C1.44 Sir Marcus Fox, MP for Leeds NE. would have to he introduced to pay for A likely by-product of the amend- services." ment if it gets through is that the Uni- Germaine concluded that this move versity's m budget will be seriously would signal the end of the NUS. and • affected. asked all students who disagreed with OXWOVANY CA( .,44 Germaine Varney, General Secretary the amendment to write to their MP or of LUU, saw the policy as potentially Tim Janman. Tim Whitwell TUESDAY 1 PM RILEY SMITH HALL It's a funny Tat 4veg: old world When detector van officials caught a London family using a TV when they didn't have a licence, it looked like an OVERSEAS STUDENTS open and shut case.