Kink groups ‘promoting fetishes’ to freshers on university campuses

Displeased parents have complained kink societies on university campuses are ‘promoting fetishes’ to young and ‘vulnerable’ students. 

Kink societies exist within several student unions across the UK, however their purpose isn’t always entirely clear. 

In Anglia Ruskin, their society says its aim is to ’empower’ those within the group to explore ‘their desires safely and confidently’.

Elsewhere, a fetish society at the University of York holds workshops on Japanese rope bondage, with attendees able to come in duos or solo and ‘self tie’. 

Last March, Sheffield students’ union had its first-ever kink club night, where party-goers were told there was no dress code, but covering genitalia was a must. 

And an Instagram post promoting the event said: ‘Our performers will take over the stage with strip teases, domination and more to get your pulse racing’

However, in many other higher education institutions, these types of groups are more comparable to social clubs. 

At Warwick University, its fetish society held a film night for its group where they discussed Fifty Shades of Grey, which features Jamie Dornan and Dakota Johnson. 

And former president of Nottingham University’s kink society, Erin Cranson, said there were ‘misconception[s]’ when it came to kink societies. 

She told Impact student newspaper: ‘The most common misconception I’d say is that people think it’s a sex society, people think it’s a sex society.’

But, in actual fact, it was a gathering of around 80 to 90 members to meet and discuss their shared interest in a ‘safe’ setting.

However, a mother whose daughter came across the Kinkster Society shortly after beginning her studies at Anglia Ruskin has since spoken out against such groups.

The parent said she anticipated universities to have sexual health stalls and was ‘grateful’ for them. 

However, she claimed that such societies ‘promoting fetish and potentially dangerous and abusive sexual practices crosse[d] the line’.

The woman, who wished to remain anonymous for her daughter’s privacy, said students were still ‘vulnerable’ being away from home ‘for the first time’.

After adding how she didn’t expect for her daughter to be confronted with such subject matter at 18 during freshers week, she told The Times: ‘I’m shocked at how badly this university has failed in their duty of care in allowing the promotion of these sexual practices.’ 

Lucy Marsh from Family Education Trust, a campaign group for traditional family values, said universities were failing to protect students by permitting fetish societies to run without restrictions. 

‘Student unions are charities which exist to advance the education of students, not to promote dangerous sexual fetishes as normal — especially not in public,’ she said. 

She said fresh-faced 18-year-olds are vulnerable to ‘grooming by older adults’ as they are away from home for the first time during freshers week. 

Ms Marsh said youngsters should be encouraged to participate in risky activities, which she claimed sought to ‘degrade and humiliate’. 

She concluded that parents do not send their children to universities and anticipate they will be faced with others ‘trying to normalise BDSM and kink clubs’.

An Anglia Ruskin student union spokesperson said: ‘The union exists to represent and support all students. 

‘All registered student societies adhere to our code of conduct and policies, which strictly prohibit activities that are unsafe, discriminatory or non-consensual, and we have received no complaints about this society.’ 

A University of York spokesperson said: ‘Societies are created and run by students to explore lots of different interests, across all kinds of academic, cultural, sporting and social activities.

‘Our students’ union is home to hundreds of affiliated societies, and given our students are independent adults, they are free to decide which ones they wish to join or attend.’

The Daily Mail reached out to Nottingham University, Warwick University, and Sheffield University and their respective students’ unions for comment.