Samuel Johnson has resigned as editor of Pi Newspaper after uproar over insensitive comments made in the column “Pi Diary”, written by Johnson himself.
The column referred to the recently filled Trans Rep position on the UCLU LGBT Society committee. Johnson wrote: “Pi Diary wishes every success to the lucky man – or woman, as the case may be. The rules are indeed somewhat confusing. At what exact point is the transition between genders made?” Johnson later added: “how scrupulously the committee checks is a grey area.”
The column sparked fury on Facebook and other social networking sites. Stef Newton, UCLU LGBT Officer, called it “a factually inaccurate, disgusting display of transphobia”.
A Pi Media committee meeting was held on 9 December to decide the society response to the developing situation. Johnson resigned with immediate effect after a vote of 5-1 against his continuing as editor (with two abstentions, of which one was Johnson).
Johnson told The Cheese Grater: “I’d have liked the opportunity to apologise publicly via Pi Newspaper, as I already have done to those who wrote to me and the individual concerned. For the most part the complainants were very understanding and accepted my explanation of the article, which was never intended to target a specific individual. However, if the committee had lost confidence in me, it was right to resign.”
However, Johnson is unhappy with his treatment by the Pi Media Committee, feeling his resignation to be the product of a witch-hunt. Johnson told The Cheese Grater: “I will be using my new free time to look into the hitherto unexposed issue of discrimination against white, straight, middle-class males at UCL.”
Annie Tidbury, UCLU Women’s Network Social Secreatary, said: “the fact that Johnson is making jokes like this shows that he isn’t sorry at all. Making light of transphobia is exactly what got him into trouble in the first place.”
Oscar Webb, Pi Newspaper Focus Editor, said: “Johnson’s comments were hugely offensive and just plain ignorant - his personal views were completely out of touch with most UCL students’ views - therefore I welcome his resignation.”
Eight complaints have been made about the column, six from UCL students, one from a lecturer and one from a member of the public.
In his response to a complaint, Johnson wrote: “I’m sorry you were offended by the article, which was intended in the spirit of jest that Pi Diary directs at many UCL clubs and societies. While I’m sorry [the UCLU LGBT Trans Rep] was offended, and will be speaking to him to apologise and explain that nothing was intended personally, I do think it would be inappropriate to treat LGBT Society with kid gloves or any less equally than we would treat any other society. I would like to think UCL students are big enough to make their own minds up on these issues and are willing to respect all views, even those they may find distasteful.
“Again, the article was not intended maliciously and I’m sorry you took it that way. However, I do feel that in a free society there should be no groups not open to a little mockery.”
Stef Newton told The Cheese Grater: “I was shocked and disgusted to read this article, and even more appalled when complaints about it were met with militant ignorance. In a day and age when 50% of trans students report transphobic abuse in their universities, it is unacceptable that these sort of comments appear in student publications, and the issue must be treated with complete seriousness.”
Pi Newspaper Co-Editor Henry Green commented on Facebook: “Deepest apologies to UCL’s LGBT community and individuals mentioned in the most recent Pi Diary. I most certainly didn’t write it but I should have been stronger in my convictions and stopped its publication. Honestly, I’m not a dick and those views aren’t mine or the paper’s as a whole.”