Brendan O'Neill on the "Blurred Lines" Ban in British Universities

Once upon a time, students' political leaders kicked against authoritarianism; now they enforce it.

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Robin Thicke, not caring.
Credit: Redfishingboat (Mick O) / Foter / CC BY-NC

Over the past fortnight, five prestigious institutions in the U.K. have banned Robin Thicke's saucy R&B ditty Blurred Lines from playing anywhere on their premises, on the basis that its overly sexual lyrics might encourage bad behaviour in men. Was it stuffy churches or mosques? Nope, it was student unions, which as Brendan O'Neill explains, have gotten into the business of authoritarianism.