Twitter fury over 'surprise rape' article gets UniLad suspended

A BLOG that calls itself the "number one university student lad's magazine and guide to getting laid" has been suspended after a fast and furious Twitter campaign against an article which appeared to condone rape.

The article, titled Sexual Mathematics, appeared on UniLad, founded by Alex Partridge. It said that 75 per cent of girls between the ages of 18 and 25 were "sluts" - defined as girls "who would happily have sex with a male after one date".

The article went on: "If the girl you've taken for a drink happens to belong to the 25 per cent group and won't 'spread for your head', think about this mathematical statistic: 85 per cent of rape cases go unreported. That seems to be fairly good odds."

To make matters worse, the article is signed off with the motto: "UniLad does not condone rape without saying 'surprise'."

One of the many Twitter users to campaign for the closure of UniLad was Sarah McAlpine (@sazza_jay), a recent graduate from Kent University, who said: "It's a 101 for misogyny. It seems to be run by a group of infantile boys caught up in a relentless willy-waving contest, measured by how horrible you are to women."

Estelle Hart of the National Union of Students said UniLad's "pathetic attempts at humour" were a serious issue because they feed into a view in society that women are to blame for the violence committed against them.

"Referring to women as wenches and slags can't be laughed off as 'banter' when just this week the head of the CPS in London has said that jurors' preconceptions about women has a negative impact on rape conviction rates," she said.

"The rape conviction rate in the UK is, at six per cent, one of the lowest in Europe and that's with less than 20 per cent of rapes ever reported to the police."

Hart, the NUS national women's officer, said Partridge was not the only offender at UniLad. "There are countless others with similar misogynistic and degrading statements and 'tips' about women."

Articles posted by Jake Gallagher (@ChefJake_) included 'How to Pull a Fresher' which opened with the words: "Fresher girls are especially vulnerable".

Included in Gallagher's advice was: "NEVER BUY HER A DRINK. That's the 3rd tip. Buying a girl a drink is so clichéd and immediately you lay down your cards." He rounds off by saying: "Stick it to her! BOSH".

Such articles have all been taken down, with Partridge posting an apology that promises "an immediate change in material" when the site is relaunched. ·