Young UUP society pessimistic about tackling 'anti-unionist hostility' at Queen's University Belfast

It has now met with both representatives of the university and the Students' Union about the issue, and has emerged from the encounters "deeply disappointed".

As previously reported, the Young Unionists Society chairman Jay Basra had written an open letter to both, complaining that the campus is a "cold house" for unionists.

“When hosting our own stall at the Freshers’ Fair, I witnessed sneering and hostility at a level not seen in the many years our society has participated," he had written.

"This has greatly concerned me.

“Many unionists already find it difficult on campus, but behaviour such as this is clearly becoming normalised."

Now, having met the university and union, the Young Unionists Society has released a statement saying: "We welcome the fact that the university and the Students’ Union were willing to meet with us, but we are deeply disappointed by the lack of appropriate action.

"The suggestion that Queen’s is a cold house for unionists was dismissed outright.

"The first step towards meaningful change is to acknowledge that a problem exists.

"We can continue to campaign indefinitely, but until the university accepts that a significant number of Unionist students do not feel welcome, no real progress will be made."

In addition, the society's statement said: "We raised the issue of the increasingly prevalent anti-PSNI rhetoric on campus.

"The university assured us that such instances are being investigated.

"This rhetoric was described as coming from only a small minority of students yet cheers and applause could be clearly heard when groups denouncing the PSNI appeared on video."

A protest was held by republicans against the PSNI at September's Freshers' Fair, when various societies at the university literally set out their stalls and try to attract new members.

Police were there by invitation of the university to provide security.

They were confronted with signs denouncing "collusion", branding them "the RUC", while a man accused them of being complicit in torture and of collaborating with "the zionist entity".

Banners and posters bearing anti-PSNI messages have separately appeared around campus.

The News Letter has sought comment from Queen's and from the union, but none had been forthcoming at time of writing.

Mr Basra is a politics student in his early 20s, who has been a UUP member since age 17, and has worked in Tom Elliott’s constituency office in Dungannon.

He describes himself as Punjabi-British.

Pressed on what measures he wants to see taken at the university, he said they include promoting "impartiality in the Students’ Union", adding it "should strive to be impartial on political and constitutional issues".

He also said "the University should not remain silent in the face of anti-PSNI sentiment or hostility on campus" and that it "should facilitate meetings with key stakeholders, including religious, cultural, and political representatives, to foster open dialogue, build understanding, and develop practical steps to make the university more inclusive for everyone".