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Date Posted: 12:45:30 11/22/02 Fri
Author: Frank
Subject: University of Ulster at Jordanstown Political bias allegations



22nd November 2002.

Andersonstown News Web Site - www.irelandclick.com/


Bosses at UUJ could face a grilling from the Human Rights Commission after a Sinn Féin stand organised by students was kicked off the campus on Tuesday.

Burly security guards told the Sinn Féin students to pack their stall and go or face disciplinary action.


The stand was set-up after student union Vice-President, Chris Flack, invited all the major political parties to visit the University for a day.

And now Sinn Féin is accusing the University of political bias against its members.


They say the decision infringes on a student’s human rights to affiliate themselves to a political party and they are considering reporting the case to the Human Rights Commission in Belfast.

And they say university staff looked on as passers-by shouted abuse at their members.

Jordanstown student Eamon Conway was manning the stall when security guards forced them out.

“We have a political right to organise ourselves within the University Campus, that is enshrined within the University’s own manifesto.
“All we did was set-up a stall offering information about issues which affect students and offering a republican perspective on matters. It was totally innocent and held at the request of the Student’s Union Vice-President Chris Flack.


“We had to endure sectarian abuse from passers-by while staff looked on, but they were quick enough to kick us out when the order came. It is a disgrace, we are the victims of political bias because we are republicans.”

University bosses can eject a political party from campus grounds if that party is displaying flags or emblems which can be construed as sectarian or if they are recruiting for members.

Newtownabbey Sinn Féin councillor Briege Meehan says the stall was doing neither - and it’s a claim backed up by Chris Flack the University of \ulster Students' Union president at Jordanstown.

“I saw the stall for myself and they were not there to recruit people or cause offence in anyway. I am very disappointed that Sinn Féin was thrown out because it was me who invited them, along with all the other political parties.

“I hope they will not be put off and come back again in the near future.”

But defiant University supremos stood by their controversial decision.
“Sinn Féin should not have set-up their stall in the main corridor as that is banned for all political parties. Political parties are also forbidden from recruiting for members and it was felt that Sinn Féin was recruiting for their youth wing.
“Their was no political bias against Sinn Féin and if another political party did the same thing they too would be asked to leave,” said a spokesman.

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