The Black Cygnets drinking society at St Hugh's College has apologized for planning a sexist event, Friday. The 'Fox Hunt' themed event encouraged male students, or 'Huntsmen,' (dressed in red jackets) to chase women 'Foxes' (dressed in short skirts and fox ears).
The apology, addressed to college's principal, Dame Elish Angiolini and students, reads:
"We are writing to express our most sincere apologies for our decision to continue this year with the tradition of the Black Cygnets' Fox Hunt. It will not take place this year or ever again," Oxford Student reports.
The society further stated that the event was intended to be humorous and not aimed at undermining the power and strength of women. The members expected the recipients to take the wordings of the invite in the same spirit.
Printed invitations to the 'pub crawl' were not sent to all female freshmen students. They were sent to students who they found attractive.
The invitation, 'the Huntsmen to pick up the scent,' reads - 'To evade mauling, Foxes must pass the following obstacles with Huntsmen in pursuit.' It asks the foxes to visit around nine pubs and consume drinks (hot punch, cider, white wine, red wine, Smirnoff Ice, gin and tonic and sambuca) before arriving at the final bar called Wahoo, referred to as 'Wahoo Foxhole,' in the invitation.
"This college was founded to secure equality for women. We are utterly appalled that any member of our community would consider belonging to, or participating in, this repugnant, sexist and secretive group," Angiolini said, the Daily Mail UK reports. "Any student involved in the distribution of material of this kind, or participation in any of this group's activities, will be subject to the college's disciplinary procedures."
The drinking club was officially banned from college in 2008. However, they conducted the annual 'Fox Hunt' in 2011 in the college bar.
Carenza Harvey, one of the students invited to the event, was offended by the event. She described it as 'inherently sexist and offensive.'
"The girls who are invited are picked purely on their looks, which creates a very destructive and dangerous atmosphere. The dress code unavoidably and unashamedly generated a sexist and demeaning predatory feel to the evening. It also, disturbingly, creates the impression that women are only animals, to be objectified, while the men hold the upper hand as humans," Harvey said.
