Ken Funston: Queen’s University needs to address concerns that it is a cold house for unionists

The Students’ Council cast votes on a number of motions, one of which was on the condemnation of Troubles related terrorism. Of the 44 delegates, 16 voted for the motion, 23 against and 5 abstained.

A simplistic view of those votes would leave one to believe that the students are therefore saying that they condoned the use of violence in the furtherance of a political aim.

With Queens’ being my ‘alma mater’ I was thoroughly dismayed by this uninformed and thoroughly insensitive attitude displayed by the students. However, it was not an isolated incident.

Grian Ni Dhaimhin, the incoming president of the Students’ Union has endorsed social media posts by others that appear to support the Provisional movement.

When a rap band chanted ‘Get the Brits out now’, she commented: ‘Thank **** I was there ... Tiocfaidh ar la.’

That has led to other students feeling marginalised, and to see the SU as an unwelcome place. I believe that Miss Dhaimhin needs to clarify what position she holds in relation to this.

In September last year I had reason to visit Queens’ and I was also aware of a controversial poster displayed at a Sinn Fein ‘youth wing’ stall during Freshers Week.

I saw the said offending poster that stated, ‘Sinn Fein Supports Brits Out.’ I challenged the four young people in attendance at the stall, stating that I found the poster offensive and a young lady responded, “That’s your problem.”

The irony was lost on them that the poster was below another leaflet claiming Sinn Fein were anti-racist. Mary Lou McDonald also tried to support the use of an analogous poster by her supporters; the implausibility of excuses were lost.

Sinn Fein are aware that unionists find posters of that type offensive, and believe they directed at them.

The previous year, in May 2018, Queens’ awarded honorary professorships to Peter Robinson and Mitchel McLaughlin. The following month 37 members of QUB staff, including senior academics, penned an open letter protesting against Mr Robinson receiving this award as they had, “deep concern and profound regret”.

There was not a single member of staff that had an issue with Mr McLaughlin, his background and the statements he had made in the past.

It was after the printing of that letter, a parent of a ‘straight A’ student who had been accepted into Queens’, informed me that his son had changed his mind and was going to a university in mainland UK, and the Robinson case was an influencing factor.

That is but one example of a student from a unionist background who feels that Queens’ is a ‘cold house’ for unionists; unfortunately it is not isolated.

I believe there is a serious issue within the university and it needs to be urgently addressed; it no longer can be assessed as a mere sentiment.

Ken Funston, MSSc, MA, Advocacy Manager South East Fermanagh Foundation, Lisnaskea