High School students urging shutdown of Paramount strip club

[CorneringArtist]

Source: Shut down New Westminster strip club, Coquitlam students say

For years, the Paramount Gentlemen's Club in New Westminster has been offering adult entertainment without much attention.

But a group of Coquitlam high school students is about to change that, using the power of the pen.

As part of a social justice class project, a group of Dr. Charles Best Secondary students will be heading to the Royal City in order to gather signatures for a petition calling on politicians to shut the strip club down.

About 50 students from the school are set to meet Saturday at Sixth Street and Sixth Avenue in New West, where they will set up information tables and break into groups to try and get signatures from residents.

Teacher Ken Ipe said the Grade 12s decided to focus on the Paramount because some of them have friends who frequent the club.

The club is open to 18 year olds because it does not have a liquor licence or serve alcohol.

Ipe suggested the club is catering to a younger clientele, including university students and even high school students.

"We think that sexism is not a healthy part of society and I think that strip clubs are a reminder that blatant sexism is alive and well in the culture," he told The NOW.

Specifically, the petition is asking New Westminster city council to reconsider the Paramount's licence and instead consider the effect strip clubs have on the culture of a community.

Ipe said the students aren't expecting to transform society with their efforts, but rather see the petition as a small step in recognizing women as equals and not objects.

He noted the class has garnered support from some Coquitlam politicians, including Coun. Selina Robinson and Trustee Gail Alty.

The club's website bills the Paramount as "Metro Vancouver's premiere gentleman's [sic] club and the cities [sic] ultimate experience in adult entertainment."

The website also boasts the Paramount has more dancers working than any other club in the city.

Ryan Lepper is one of the students taking part in the class project.

He argued strip clubs objectify woman because they give the men visiting the impression women are just objects meant to be bought and sold.

"It sexualizes them by saying that they are only objects meant to pleasure men, and we don't want girls growing up in a world where they are viewed that way," he wrote in an e-mail.

He said the plan is to take the petition to an upcoming city council meeting for a presentation.

Lepper also noted the class did not contact the club in regards to the petition.

For safety reasons, the students decided not to set up in front of the club during its nighttime business hours.

Calls to the Paramount for comment were not returned by The NOW's press deadline.

© Copyright (c) Coquitlam Now


Read more: Shut down New Westminster strip club, Coquitlam students say

Now, while I'm personally not a patron, it concerns me that they blindly attacked the club by starting their protests WITHOUT contacting the Paramount for their side of the argument. Seeing a few other news articles on this tells me that these kids are willing to put people out of jobs to get an "A" in a class that smells like it's a cheap excuse for a passing grade.

Thought I'd start a little discussion on this after the other headache-inducing threads I've frequented. I've mulled over both sides, one being the objectifying of women and attraction of degenerates to the area, the other being female empowerment and the concern over employment, even if it's not necessarily the best way to make a living. Or going way out there, the Zionists had something to do with this because they need the building space for nefarious purposes.

[ShadowBun]

Sounds very convenient for a quick buck for the girls

[SB7]

Wtf, how can a bunch of high school kids who have never even been in a strip club have the power and authority to try and shut one down.

[punkwax]

Never been to Paramount.. Peeler bar with no alcohol? Not for me.
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[bloodline129]

Fukin nerds talking bout sexism but every single of them has calisters on their hands cuz FAP ALL DAY... Whoring/stripping for $$ is the oldest profession out there
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[dlo]

been to it, its not bad nor good... fuck up wit these lil poons? lol

[beproud]

Wtf, stupid kids, trying to make a name for themselves..... It's the 21st century, if people still think woman are "just objects" are pretty fucked in the head eh. I for one go to strip clubs and I do not think that way!

[Graeme S]

For me, the thing that bothers me is that it's often pitched against "the management" or "the establishment" which is usually owned by men. But nobody asks the workers how they feel about the place.

Besides, you don't like that someone who's 18 can buy porn and go to strip clubs? Go ask them to raise the law to 21 like they have it in the states. And get your ass handed to you and laughed off the streets.

-edit-

Also, by not consulting with the girls who work there, they're simply reinforcing the idea that the girls are objects--things to be disputed over and fought over. Ask them, go with their opinion. You can't judge anyone else by YOUR experiences.

[LC21]

I thought they shut down already
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[Traum]

WTF is wrong with these kids? Do they really think they are standing on some invincible moral high ground?

[MTV Cribs]

I now know there's a strip club in New West
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[spideyv2]

stupid little kids

edit - Read the article, raging even harder now. What a bunch of phaggots.

[Soundy]

Originally Posted by Graeme S

For me, the thing that bothers me is that it's often pitched against "the management" or "the establishment" which is usually owned by men. But nobody asks the workers how they feel about the place.

Besides, you don't like that someone who's 18 can buy porn and go to strip clubs? Go ask them to raise the law to 21 like they have it in the states. And get your ass handed to you and laughed off the streets.

-edit-

Also, by not consulting with the girls who work there, they're simply reinforcing the idea that the girls are objects--things to be disputed over and fought over. Ask them, go with their opinion. You can't judge anyone else by YOUR experiences.

Hope you don't mind... friend of mine posted this article on her FB, I added your comments about asking the girls to the thread (with semi-attribution, meaning "I saw this posted on another discussion"). Very strong point that needs to be shared.

[Slifer]

Senor Chang - Gay - YouTube

[StylinRed]

read this on news1130 a few days ago, thought it was rather amusing considering most of these teens are likely not old enough to be able to experience a strip club so how can they have an educated opinion

the news1130 article also noted that they were protesting objectification which by definition everything/one is an object

feel sorry for the kids, they must be getting manipulated by a real blow hard feminist instructor


If the portrayal of women and the promoted messages affect these teens so much they should be protesting the programming and videos shown on canadian television networks
go after the real targets not some paltry, run down, strip club

[dinosaur]

I live about 5 mins from this place and honestly, I had no idea it was still open. Even though it is on a busy main street, it does not stand out...it is surrounded by wedding stores, a few restaurants, and refurbished buildings that have been turned into lofts. It's not dirty, there are not people hanging out, no panhandlers or other seedy characters, etc. There are no pictures of nekkid ladies or any other 'eye-raising' material that would indicate that it is a strip club.

So, my thoughts? This is a waste of the kids' time. I don't think that this is a problem in New West. And, though I am not a patron, I don't see a need for it to close. Maybe it is not THE BEST choice for the street as it is currently going through a re-vitalization project and I don't think I would like to see more strip clubs there, but I have no problem with the Paramount.

[Gridlock]

I hate it when high school kids feel that they are enlightened, and the rest of us are blind.

Go back to worrying about home room, pimples and teen aged pregnancy.

Although, im sure salient group thanks them for their work. (thwy are building a condo tower next door)

[dinosaur]

What I would like to see these kids raise awareness about is the high level of homelessness and drug use in the city (New West). Because of the Columbia street re-vitalization, it has pushed a lot of the less-than-desirable characters into the more residential areas. We have noticed a huge increase in crime (building break-ins, vehicle break-ins, and vandalism) ever since the city has bulldozed 3 city blocks along Columbia and re-built the Quay.

[StylinRed]

rofl

Owner of paramount:
I am deeply saddened that the students from Dr. Charles Best Secondary and their teacher Ken Ipe would hand this pamphlet out at todays rally! I am truley hurt by this form of propaganda and find it disgusting! I say this with a very heavy heart!! Anyone that would think that I would allow that kind of behavior in my club does not no me or me belief system or how I was brought up! Very sad day! Shame on you! Please feel free to contact their school and school board if you feel like I do! Making kids hand this out in public is child abuse!!!!!!!!!!

http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Pa...b/327520752400

the owner claims he's asked to speak with the teacher, students, etc about the matter but hasn't heard from them

[urrh]

Originally Posted by striker_boi7

Wtf, how can a bunch of high school kids who have never even been in a strip club have the power and authority to try and shut one down.

exactly what i was thinking. there's a reason why kids can't vote. no one cares or should care about their opinion

[Soundy]

Originally Posted by StylinRed

the owner claims he's asked to speak with the teacher, students, etc about the matter but hasn't heard from them

Of course not, and he probably never will. It's much easier to carry on this sort of thing when you live in a vacuum.

[b0unce. [?]]

time to go see how great this place is before they possibly close down!

[Sid Vicious]

this is what happens when you trust high school students with any amount of responsibility



claiming that a strip club is sexist is fallacious argument

[SkinnyPupp]

Originally Posted by Gridlock

I hate it when high school kids feel that they are enlightened, and the rest of us are blind.

Yeah it used to be just the university students who suddenly decided they know everything about everything because their professor did a really good job of turning on the switch in their brains...

[hillmar]

Originally Posted by StylinRed

rofl




The Paramount Gentleman's Club - New Westminster, BC - Adult Entertainment | Facebook

the owner claims he's asked to speak with the teacher, students, etc about the matter but hasn't heard from them

Sounds like they need better security and that's about it. Try to do that stuff at Vegas and get ready to get your ass beat down.