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

Members of Labour Youth and SDLP Youth in Magee University

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