Issue 1434 Monday 7th Nov 2022
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A guide to the NCL fashion scene Newcastle’s Fashion society is the perfect place to get involved with the hottest trends and fashion on Campus! Fashion & Beauty | page 16
The 700 year old disease has left its mark
The Black Death still seems to impact us today Science | page 11
The phenomenon of #BookTok Has this TikTok trend changed the way we publish? Arts | page 27
Newcastle school labels being LGBTQ+ as “individual choice” in city-wide advert Rowan Christina Driver - Music sub-editor Meg Howe - Editor-in-Chief
The Royal Grammar School’s advertising campaign has recieved an overwelming reaction due to their poor choice of words
T
he Royal Grammar School revealed a new advertising campaign last month, in promotion of an upcoming open event on November 12th for prospective students and families. The campaign, designed in collaboration with creative specialists Altogether, features a series of various slogans created to encapsulate the ethos of the school, alongside “real imagery” to reflect the “multi-layered experience at RGS”. The campaign consists of a series of outdoor billboards, as well as other “print, social media and online” content in and around Newcastle, including in Metro stations and on Metro trains. The private coeducational institution, based in Jesmond, have devised a series of slogans aiming to demonstrate the overarching message: “There’s more to life at RGS”. Amongst the “alliterating statements” is the rhyming couplet “from individual choices/to student voices” – a statement highlighting the school’s encouragement for individualism and self-expression. The first half of the slogan - “from individual choices” - appears alongside an image of LGBTQ+ Pride flags (pictured on the right), which observers have described as implying that being a member of the LGBTQ+ community is an “individual choice”. Overwhelmingly, the reaction to this campaign has highlighted the poor choice of phrasing used by the school. This has left both the advertisement, and the school’s, intentions exposed
to prejudicious misconstructions. Some, however, believe the campaign has utilised the concept of “rainbow capitalism” – a term used to describe when promotion of LGBTQ+ rights is incentivised by capitalism for both monetary and reputational benefits.
Observers have described [the ad] as implying that being LGBTQ+ is an “individual choice” The institution is responsible for over 1300 young people, ranging from ages 7 to 18, with most paying up to £15,369 per annum. Within the school’s ethos and vision, they state: “An environment where we look out for each other and treat everyone with care and respect, within and beyond our community”. In response to the advert, a Newcastle University student said, “it remains clear that RGS have ultimately embroiled themselves in responsibility for a gross misjudgement of what inclusivity really means, it’s a clumsy attempt at boxticking”.
profound impacts on the wider community. George Wood, LGBTQ+ Officer for Newcastle University’s Students’ Union, said “Although I choose to believe that the intentions of this poster were entirely honourable, clearly the execution of these intentions was, at best, misjudged.” Wood also urged “any organisation striving for inclusivity to consider the implications of their messaging carefully, to prevent potentially hurtful miscommunications like this.” Students across the North East, who use the Metro services frequently, expressed concern and disappointment with the advertising choices of the
school. Many identify that the language choices are “poor” and that more care should have been placed to ensure that RGS were not endorsing homophobic ideas. Newcastle University student, Sarah Tunstall, told The Courier: “there’s a lot of pain and self-acceptance that comes with realising that you’re queer. It can take people years to accept who they are, suggesting being a part of the community is a choice completely ignores the stories that come from LGBTQ+ history.” “Why would we choose to be gay?” added Northumbria student Ruby Kelleher, “Even in 2022, it is an unjust fact of society that LGBTQ+ lives are
In 2021, it was stated that 68% of LGBTQ+ youth have considered suicide This advertising comes at a time when mental health amongst LGBTQ+ youth is at an all-time low. In 2021, Just Like Us, a charity organisation specialising in LGBT youth, stated that 68% of LGBTQ+ youth have considered suicide. With this data in mind, a Newcastle student further stated that the school’s decision can be seen as “a dangerous oversight”. While it is understood that the intentions behind the combination of word and picture were not rooted in malice, it is evident that careless advertising such as this can have
Image: Rowan Christina Driver
more difficult due to discrimination and prejudice, so while I am perfectly comfortable in my sexuality, I just cannot understand why anyone could think I would simply choose to endure the reality.”
“We aceept we got it wrong... Our adverts are absolutely and ultimately our responsibility” - RGS
While in an initial response RGS apologised for any offence caused by the advertisements, when contacted for an official statement, a spokesperson from the school articulated commitment to “learning about the language of equality, diversity and inclusion” in their mission to “convey [their] broader culture” by celebrating a “diverse and inclusive community”. “RGS genuinely is a place where choices are endless”, the school stated, “and anyone can follow their interests, find their passion, explore their preferences, feel free to be themselves.” “But we accept we got it wrong by connecting this aspect of RGS with this photo.” Parents of current students at the 497-year-old establishment were also approached about the matter but declined the option to comment. When questioned on the conception of the advert and their collaboration with Altogether, the school stated, “we work with several agencies. As with most schools’ and Universities’ relationships with creatives, it is a partnership, but our adverts are absolutely and ultimately our responsibility.” No plans to remove the boards in question have been expressed, however, RGS have “stopped any digital publication of the advert” and stated it “will not be posted anywhere going forward”. Altogether were approached by The Courier, but no comment was given.