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<h1 class="gmail-article-header__title">Irish language signs would ‘further dissuade unionists’ from studying at Ulster University, claim Young Unionists</h1>
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<img class="gmail-article-header__lead-image gmail-cld-responsive" alt="Ulster University's Magee campus in Londonderry" src="https://res.cloudinary.com/jpress/image/fetch/w_700,f_auto,ar_3:2,q_auto:low,c_fill/if_h_lte_200,c_mfit,h_201/https://www.newsletter.co.uk/webimage/1.8715682.1542908571!/image/image.jpg" title="Ulster University's Magee campus in Londonderry">
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Ulster University's Magee campus in Londonderry
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<span class="gmail-article-meta__timestamp-time">17:42</span>
<span class="gmail-article-meta__timestamp-date">Thursday 22 November 2018</span>
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<h3 class="gmail-article-content__lead"><p>The Young Unionists – the
youth wing of the UUP – have voiced their opposition to proposals for
the erection of Irish language signs at Ulster University, branding the
move a “political stunt” that will “further dissuade unionists” from
studying there.</p></h3>
<p>A new bilingual signage policy which includes Irish
language was approved by Ulster University Students’ Union (UUSU)
earlier this week.</p><div class="gmail-p402_hide">
</div><p>The motion agreed by the UUSU Council resolved that
“the Students’ Union provides for bilingual signage on all directional,
facilitating and welcoming signs in the Students’ Union to replace
existing signage over time. And that UUSU executive lobbies the
University authorities for Irish language signage on all four campuses
(Belfast, Jordanstown, Coleraine and Magee).”</p><div class="gmail-p402_hide">
</div><p>While the move has been welcomed by many Irish
speakers as “a positive step forward”, the chairman of the Young
Unionists has voiced concerns that the erection of Irish language signs
would introduce “a hierarchy of equality” at the university.</p><div class="gmail-p402_hide">
</div><p>“The Young Unionists oppose this (the UUSU decision) for two
main reasons. Firstly, it creates a hierarchy of equality that suggests
that Irish is more important than all the other languages spoken at the
University, including – but not limited to – Mandarin, Polish,
Portuguese and Ulster-Scots,” Joshua Lowry said.</p><p>“Secondly, this
political stunt has nothing to do with promoting the use of the Irish
language and everything to do with attempting to make the university a
cold house for unionists, and others who do not support the republican
agenda in the university. </p><p>“We feel that this will create an
unwelcoming atmosphere at the university, and will further dissuade
unionists from choosing to attend Ulster University.”</p><p>Mr Lowry
continued: “Irish language signs were taken down from Queen’s University
Belfast in 1997 because the Fair Employment Commission concluded at the
time that it created a ‘chill factor’ amongst Protestant students, did
not in any way ‘spread… the use of the Irish language’ and was just
being used as an excuse for ‘tokenism’. </p><div class="gmail-p402_hide">
</div><div class="gmail-p402_hide">
</div><p>“We have written to the Vice Chancellor of Ulster
University to ask that the same logic be applied, or we will be forced
to report the matter to the Equality Commission.</p><p>“Ulster
University has a responsibility to staff and students to ensure that it
provides equality to all, and that it is a safe space for open and
respectful learning and debate. It would be sheer folly to allow this
university to turn into one that values one community over another.”</p><p>Responding
to Mr Lowry’s allegation that the UUSU Council’s decision was a
political stunt designed to make the university a cold house for
unionists, a union spokesperson said: “UUSU is committed to upholding
the spirit of good relations in all aspects of its activity, including
in facilitating healthy debate. The motion in question was put forward
by a member of the Students’ Union Council, which is a diverse body made
up of students from a range of communities and backgrounds and was
subsequently passed.</p><p>“As with all policy mandated by the Students’
Union Council, implementation will be subject to further discussion
with the university, and in consultation with the wider student body and
other relevant stakeholders.</p><div class="gmail-p402_hide">
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</div><p>“UUSU welcomes all of our members to get involved
with our democratic structures and to shape the work that we undertake
in representing the student voice at Ulster University.”</p><div class="gmail-p402_hide">
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</div><p>Speaking to the News Letter on Wednesday, TUV leader Jim
Allister branded the UUSU Council’s move “utterly unnecessary” and
claimed it was “clearly motivated by the intent to make the <span class="gmail-vm-hook-outer gmail-vm-hook-default"><span class="gmail-vm-hook" style="color:rgb(0,153,0);border-color:transparent transparent rgb(0,153,0)">university</span><span class="gmail-vm-hook-icon" style="display:inline-block"></span></span> a cold house for unionists and Protestants.”</p><p>However,
Sinn Féin senator Niall Ó Donnghaile welcomed the decision, saying:
“It’s important that we continue to promote and increase the visibility
of the Irish language; linguistic diversity, representing and reflecting
languages, not least indigenous languages, are positive economic and
social drivers.</p>
<br>-- <br><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_signature" data-smartmail="gmail_signature">=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+<br><br> Harold F. Schiffman<br><br>Professor Emeritus of <br> Dravidian Linguistics and Culture <br>Dept. of South Asia Studies <br>University of Pennsylvania<br>Philadelphia, PA 19104-6305<br><br>Phone: (215) 898-7475<br>Fax: (215) 573-2138 <br><br>Email: <a href="mailto:haroldfs@gmail.com" target="_blank">haroldfs@gmail.com</a><br><a href="http://ccat.sas.upenn.edu/~haroldfs/" target="_blank">http://ccat.sas.upenn.edu/~haroldfs/</a> <br><br>-------------------------------------------------</div></div>