The Good Night Out campaign received a further boost on Wednesday as CUSU Women’s Officer Charlotte Chorley held a “successful” meeting with Cambridge licence holders organised by Cambridge Business Against Crime.

The campaign, backed by the CUSU Women’s Campaign, CUSU LGBT+, and Cambridge Universities Labour Club (CULC), aims to lobby clubs, bars and other Cambridge businesses to take the Good Night Out pledge on taking action against sexual harassment.

A change.org petition, launched by CULC, has received nearly over 380 signatures and was presented to 30 representatives from all major night time venues by CUSU Women’s Officer Charlotte Chorley, including Fez, Lola Los, Ballare, Kuda, Revolution, Ta Bouche, La Raza, Hidden Rooms, the Tram Depot, the Regal, the Sports Bar, and McDonald’s.

The Labour Club petition is also backed by Cambridge Labour MP Daniel Zeichner, after “promoting a zero tolerance policy to sexual harassment” featured in his five-point pledge card for students during the General Election.

The campaign, according to the petition, is “a nationwide initiative and global network” and was “set up to tackle sexual harassment of women and LGBT+ people on nights out.”

“The goal is to clamp down on sexism, racism, homophobia, transphobia, ableism and any other kind of harassment and oppression in our night-time public spaces. This is done through commitment to a Good Night Out pledge, which enables the training of staff in how to respond to reports of sexual harassment and abuse, and builds this positive approach into existing general safety policy.

“It lets clients know that if they feel harassed they can find help and get on with having a safe and good night out.”

Speaking to Varsity, CUSU Women’s Officer Charlotte Chorley, who is able to deliver Good Night Out training, said that “there has been a real sense of positivity around the Good Night Out pledge.”

“I presented the petition, which has nearly 400 signatures, requesting venues to take up the pledge, to the license owners and outlined the structure of the campaign. Good Night Out already has over 70 venues signed up nationwide, and Cambridge owners were keen to be part of it.

“Following on from the meeting, I have contacted several premises including Ta Bouche, La Raza, Hidden Rooms, McDonald’s and Revolution, as well as security firms who supply door staff. The main nightclubs were also keen to be involved.

“I am in the process of finding available dates to train the venues, and develop strategies for ensuring all customers have a good night out. It is crucial to note that the Good Night Out pledge is not comprehensive in covering all types of harassment faced by different groups, and as such, I will be working with the CUSU LGBT+ to develop the sessions.”

Jack Renshaw, Chair of CUSU LGBT+, echoed Chorley’s comments, telling Varsity that “CUSU LGBT+ supports the principles of the Good Night Out campaign, particularly its commitment to tackle LGBT+ specific harassment.

“We will work alongside CUSU Women’s Campaign and CULC to ensure that any bars or clubs involved receive training and materials that are genuinely LGBT+ inclusive.”

Meanwhile, Beth Jamal, CULC Women’s Officer, who was jointly responsible with Vice Chair Imogen Shaw for the original petition, said that “I’m really pleased to see such an enthusiastic response from the Cambridge clubs to CUSU and CULC’s campaign. It shows that they are putting students and punters first and listening to their demands.

“I look forward to seeing a positive change in Cambridge nightlife.”

In a 2014 “Cambridge Speaks Out” report, it was found that 77 per cent of its 2,130 respondents had experienced sexual harassment, and 28.5 per cent had been victims of sexual assault.

Meanwhile, Kuda and Ballare recently introduced a customer protection campaign entitled “We Care”, which involves the training of female “Customer Care Ambassadors” and the provision of free phone charging stations in cloakrooms. Under the scheme, vulnerable clients can be escorted home in a taxi. Despite being positively received, CUSU Women’s Campaign received reports of “several” instances of sexual harassment, allegedly handled poorly by Kuda staff.