Meet Jeff Corbett. A fiery columnist for The Newcastle Herald, he’s the author of such pearls of wisdom as this week’s “Nation of Nancy Boys”:

(Clink here or on the image to read full article.)

Now meet Beth.  NUSA President and Undergraduate Student Rep on University Council, she sent Jeff (and others) a media release to celebrate ‘International No Diet Day’:

From: Beth Maloney
Sent: Tuesday, 6 May 2008 9:40 AM
To: Jeff Corbett
Subject: Attached media release – International No-Diet Day

Please accept my apologies, as this media release was sent yesterday, but an error occurred so I am re-sending it today,

Thanks,
Beth.

Beth Maloney
NUSA President
Undergraduate Student Rep on University Council
ph. (XX) XXXX XXXX
ph: XXXX XXX XXX 

Jeff responded in kind:

From: Jeff Corbett
Date:  Tue, 6 May 2008 9:45 AM
To: Beth Maloney
Subject: RE: Attached media release – International No-Diet Day 

Thank you Beth. Interesting. Is your message that it’s fine to be female and fat?

Regards

Jeff Corbett

Beth took umbrage:

From: Beth Maloney
Sent: Tue, 6 May 2008 12:45 PM
To: Jeff Corbett
Subject: Re: Attached media release – International No-Diet Day

Jeff,

It is befitting that you refer to “real men” in your opinion today, and then email me, asking if the message behind “international no-diet day” is that “it’s ok to be female and be fat”. What is a real man? What is a real woman? The ideals behind the definition of the genders certainly does not confirm to “tits and tats” or metros-xual “limps”. One should be able to choose how to express ones gender and sexuality without ridicule.

Even if my supposition is correct and that in your opinions you are merely taking the p-ss, many a Novocastrian’s racist, s-xist and queer-phobic views are inflated by your articles. If indeed, you are expressing your actual opinions, your ignorance and blatant incitement of s-xism racial and queer hatred sickens me.

I enjoy my shed, and getting dirty under the bonnet, I also play rugby union. I am not tattooed; I conform to the Western ideal of homogenised beauty. I do not assault men with “my tats and t-ts”, but occasionally out on town in Newcastle, I have had my t-ts assaulted, been afraid of being r-ped and been insulted simply because I have a v-gina and turned down s-xual advances.

In response to your email, international no-diet day is not about it being fine to be female and fat — its about it being fine to be female and happy.

Regards,

Beth.

Beth Maloney
NUSA President
Undergraduate Student Rep on University Council
ph. (XX) XXXX XXXX
ph: XXXX XXX XXX

Poor Jeff threw up his hands:

From: Jeff Corbett
Date: Tue, 6 May 2008 2:16 PM 
To: Beth Maloney
Subject: RE: Attached media release – International No-Diet Day

Whoa Beth, go and have a good lie down!

Jeff

But then couldn’t resist another bite of the cherry:

From: Jeff Corbett
Date: Tue, 6 May 2008 3:43 PM
To: Beth Maloney
Subject: RE: Attached media release – International No-Diet Day

Beth, I hope I haven’t put you off the gorging. How much, by the way, do you weigh?

Jeff

Beth was not amused:

From: Beth Maloney
Sent: Tue, 6 May 2008 3:51 PM
To: Jeff Corbett
Subject: Re: Attached media release – International No-Diet Day

Inappropriate Jeff.

Regards,
Beth.

Beth Maloney
NUSA President
Undergraduate Student Rep on University Council
ph. (XX) XXXX XXXX
ph: XXXX XXX XXX

So Jeff wrote this today:

Your move, Beth.