Free Speech not so valuble in Northern Universities
antrim |
rights, freedoms and repression |
news report 
Friday September 29, 2006 04:45
by Northern Line - A man of the labouring classes
"Human beings shall enjoy freedom of speech and belief and freedom from fear and want, [and this] has been proclaimed as the highest aspiration of the common people"
- Universal Declaration of Human Rights
In Northern Ireland it is often easy to overlook the political occurrences outside of the sectarian divide. However this year the University of Ulster has decided to impose a mysterious 'Political Protocol' which effectively has forbidden political organisations the right to operate within the student body.
The protocol states that "No flags, colours or emblems; nor political leaflets, banners, backdrops or manifestos may be displayed."
Groups such as the SDLP Youth, Labour Youth and Ogra Sinn Fein have over the last week been defying the university and have been campaigning to have the protocol scrapped.
It is important to note that the 'political protocol' does not only censor political parties but all organisations of a political nature.
The University of Ulster in censoring the students has taken a step, which is both frightening and patronising. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights declares that "Human beings shall enjoy freedom of speech and belief and freedom from fear and want [that] has been proclaimed as the highest aspiration of the common people". You would hope that Universities of all places would ensure that people can exercise their rights to free speech and live free from 'fear and want'.
The 'Political Protocol' will prevent discussion and will in no way contribute to improving the lives of students and so it must be removed.
By imposing what in effect is a ban on politics, the University has not only denied Political Organisations access to the students, but also more damagingly, it has denied students the right to access political organisations.
We would ask all people who believe in the freedom of speech and especially those of you who are students in the University of Ulster to contact both the Students' Union and the college authorities to voice your disgust at this protocol
Comments (3 of 3)
Jump To Comment: 1 2 3If you're looking for some free speech for politically motivated university students, here's some:
www.newbookforanewworld.com/lecture.
I live in the US, where the most politically powerful group of people in the country is youth who don't want to get drafted. From what I've seen on this site, it looks like a lot of people in Eire-land are trying to figure out how to stop US politicians from starting huge wars too. Maybe there's a reason political groups are being banned at universities. Maybe the US is next...
Meanwhile at the other end of the country a similarly mysterious political protocol is apparently being self-imposed by students at UCC who are keenly aware of the corporate enviroment that surrounds them. In the middle of a debate about mismanagement/bullying/corruption etc here is what one student had to say:
Again, i'm not going to take a position on this on the boards, as whatever i say will inevitably piss off some people that i will need throughout the year. That may seem cowardly to some of you, but it is practical more than anything else.
This person is a representative on the student union, believe it or not. And while you might wish he had a bit more gumption, he is not wrong - retribution is swift for anyone challenging the regime. Ive mentioned already elsewhere how incredibly low the student anti-war opposition was/is within UCC - it almost exclusively middle-aged staff. The feeling is (as evidenced by the quote above) that students have read the runes pretty well and know what they have to do to ensure they get through UCC without a hiccup. Head down, eyes to the ground and stick to the status quo. Big new buildings for corporate backed research and other activity and the same forced cheeriness of Disneyesque fascism are the pillars of the new ethos. Strapping lads playing hurley and the success stories of young student women, would-be GMO business entrepreneurs in the college mags. Exciting new pharmaceutical research and mciroelectronic weapons technology. That's the shiny new face of UCC - despite the financial and other catastrophes unfolding behind the scenes.
read UCC forum (FUCC) here:
http://bb.ucc.ie/viewtopic.php?p=110337#110337
UCC article:
http://www.indymedia.ie/article/78472
Didnt see Ogra FF there.
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