A campaign to reinstate popular student flirting website ‘FitFinder’ after it was banned for proving too much of a distraction to studying students, has been started at the University of York and has gained national media attention.
The campaign, led by York Vision columnist, Scott Bryan, began after FitFinder creator Rich Martell was forced to close down the website and pay a £300 fine to his university, UCL for “bringing their name into disrepute.”
After apparently finding Scott’s comment article defending FitFinder on the Vision website, published in print earlier this term, Rich got in touch with Scott asking him if he would be happy to lead the campaign to bring the website back.
After considering Rich’s proposal, Scott started up the Facebook group “BRING BACK FITFINDER” which now boasts over 2,200 members.
Speaking to Vision, Bryan revealed that even if he hadn’t been approached he would probably still have been moved to act.
“I have always been a keen user of Fitfinder, it was great between friends as banter,” he said.
“I was going to set up a Facebook group and just when I did I got contacted by Rich Martell who said that he would help it in any way he could and endorse the campaign. In one hour the group got 100 members and the minute it was linked on the official FitFinder website it jumped to 1,000.”
Bryan also told Vision that despite the objections of some that the website is “letchy” and “a threat to people’s privacy” he is standing firmly behind his initial comments defending the site.
“Although I admit that a small portion of ‘filthy tweets’ did make my skin crawl, you can’t close down a website for the actions of a very small minority of people. I think the support people have shown the website shows that people remember the website favourably rather than as a social evil.”
“As for privacy issues – a social networking site is only a product of the people who use it. Anyone can go through your pictures on Facebook or follow you on Twitter and these were never closed down. Rich has assured me that new privacy features will be added to the site when it eventually does return but that it’ll be done in a way which doesn’t undermine the whole website.”
Other students at York also seem to agree with Scott’s point of view. One third year Computer Scientist remarked: “I really have no idea why UCL would want to shut down the website. People showing initiative like this should be praised not punished – it’s absolute madness.”
At the time of printing the petition had amassed almost 8,000 signatures from students who wish once again to be able to share their knowledge of fitties on campus.
A university spokesperson released a statement, saying that “The University of York made no formal complaint about the FitFinder website. Our understanding is that it was taken down by its creator following advice from UCL. More generally, the University of York has a duty of care towards students and staff, and will take action on harassment and bullying using electronic means. If necessary, that will include disciplinary action, whether the harassment or bullying is taking place using University equipment or not.”