In the past month, stories have been flooding in from across the country from people who have been severely injured and even hospitalised from spiking. This rise in spiking has led to widespread discussion and action upon this harrowing and vile crime.
From this, a campaign has been launched across the country dubbed as the 'Big Night in' or sometimes 'Girls Night in'. The campaign is aiming to get as many people as possible to boycott clubs from the 25th October onwards.
Each city seems to have their own specific date - Newcastle's being the 28th October.
On the 26th October, Newcastle University's Student Union made a statement detailing which societies are supporting the boycott.
The list goes as follows in alphabetical order:
93% Club Newcastle
Afro-Caribbean Society
Amnesty International Society
Archaeology Society
Architecture Society
Biology Society
Blank Canvas
Brunei Newcastle Society
Business Society
Caledonian Society
CEGSoc
Combined Honours Society
Drag Society
English Society
Fellwalking Society
FemEng
Feminist Society
History Society
Indie Society
International Society
LGBTQ+ Society
MathsSoc
Newcastle Law Society
Newcastle University Running Club
Newcastle University Sustainable Medics
NUGSS
People and Planet Society
Physics Society
PsychSoc
Speech and Language Therapy Society
Tamil and Malayali Society
Tedx Society
All of these societies have pledged to stay in on the 28th of October in an effort to raise awareness of spiking and urge nightclubs to take permanent action on the crisis.
To gain more of an insight on this, we spoke to Charlie Moses who is President of Indie Society - one of the many boycotting this week. He said:
For far too long the onus has been on women being expected to stay in to stay safe rather than tackling the root of the spiking problem
Charlie Moses, President Of Indie Society
Continuing, he said the Indie Society is standing in solidarity to send "A strong message to bar and club owners that they need to ensure the safety of women in their establishments."
"Indeed a lot already have stepped up to the mark with additional security, drink covers, testing kits and such. This is still, however, just mitigating and not eliminating the problem but it is still an important step in the right direction."
The Courier, NSR and NUTV are all standing in solidarity with the Big Night In this week and are standing in solidarity and support of all victims of spiking.