Alleged Intimidation of Bar Staff in Mandela
Following positive reports from some of those in attendance at the recent Ulster-Scots night in the Union, there have been negative allegations concerning a political figure present on the night. It is thought a shout of 'No Surrender' from the crowd was then reiterated by the DUP deputy Mayor while giving a speech towards the end of the concert.
Although denied by organiser, SCA Officer Eddie Hanna, who admitted "Someone from the crowd may have shouted 'No Surrender' but with 300-odd people there it is impossible to pin-point that person", others in attendance have spoken of intimidation. A member of the bar staff said he had really enjoyed the music and atmosphere until the Deputy Mayor's speech which was highly politicised. At this point he swapped bars with another worker as he felt "uncomfortable and intimidated" in the main Mandela Hall Bar.
A DVD of the night is due for release soon...
It has been confirmed by a member of the Executive that two complaints have been made regarding this incident. These will be discussed and a course of action will be decided upon next week when the Executive meet.
Although denied by organiser, SCA Officer Eddie Hanna, who admitted "Someone from the crowd may have shouted 'No Surrender' but with 300-odd people there it is impossible to pin-point that person", others in attendance have spoken of intimidation. A member of the bar staff said he had really enjoyed the music and atmosphere until the Deputy Mayor's speech which was highly politicised. At this point he swapped bars with another worker as he felt "uncomfortable and intimidated" in the main Mandela Hall Bar.
A DVD of the night is due for release soon...
It has been confirmed by a member of the Executive that two complaints have been made regarding this incident. These will be discussed and a course of action will be decided upon next week when the Executive meet.
posted by Gown Team at
5:30 pm
25 Comments:
"No Surrender" is a cry of defiance not of attack, and since when has a load of men in skirts been intimidating? Yawn. Somebody needs to grown up and learn to live and let live. We're all on this island together you know, and no culture is going away soon.
It really must be intimidating for some people to realise that -shock horror- there is more than one cultural/political identity in the University.
Intimidating to some bigots narrow little mindset more like.
Scary stuff...
gown...
would this "story" not implicate and slur the character of a certain SCA officer/organizer of the event given the alleged breach of employment law (intimidation)? If so would Gown stand over the story in a court of law?
informed observer
Observer (informed or otherwise) - is this an official threat of legal action? We will certainly stand over this story. We await the outcome of next week's Exec meeting. In the meantime why don't you have a look at our NEW ISSUE OUT NOW, it should keep you occupied.
"No Surrender" is an extremely ironic thing for any member of the DUP to say.
The conduct of his party should make it abundantly obvious to everyone that he was only having a laugh.
who said it was a member of the DUP sammy who may have shouted no surrender.
There were many cultures there on the night- maybe it was sombody from the UPRG
Anonymous,
"It is thought a shout of 'No Surrender' from the crowd was then reiterated by the DUP deputy Mayor"
1. Do you know what "reiterated" means? OR
2. By your reference to UPRG are you suggesting that the DUP have some sort of links with political spokesmen for terror?
Maybe the shout of No-Surrender was by one of the Sinn Fein members at the back of the hall, or perhaps it was they in fact that the bar staff was intimidated by?
"Maybe the shout of No-Surrender was by one of the Sinn Fein members at the back of the hall, or perhaps it was they in fact that the bar staff was intimidated by?"
[1] The presence of Sinn Féin members at this event should be welcomed by all concerned as a clear example of the willingness of republicans to co-operate and move forward with the unionist community as equals, ur blatantly secterian comment not only shows a scary xenophobic attitude but also does nothing to reassure people that this 'ALLEGED' intimidation was just that 'ALLEGED'
[2]the students union should be a place where all students no matter what their backgrounds should feel safe and welcome. lets hope next years executive will work to combat sectarianism and racism -
Vote Dermot Keenan 1 for SCA
"Maybe the shout of No-Surrender was by one of the Sinn Fein members at the back of the hall"
Perhaps. They must have been able to throw their voices and make it seem that the deputy Mayor said it.
But like I say, its a pointless argument.
Sad attempt by dermott to win votes in the run up to elections.
What happened to you saying you could run as ogra sinn fein candidates??
Clearly you have changed your tune and should get the rightful thrashing you deserve.
read the manifesto ... ogra logo is quite clearly there and ull see i state that i am a member of ogra. Sure well see what happens over the next two days!
Dermott i applaud ur attitude to dismiss sectarianism in the union but as ur runin under orga shinn fein this might be a bit hard for people to take, also u say about the union executive, but how many student council meetings have u bin to this year?? mm maybe votes for SCA could be better directed than to someone running under a sectarian banner
Ógra Shinn Féin - a sectarian banner??... The verbal diarrhoea you spew never ceases to amaze me!
Firstly just to clear up for those people who were confused during the election - Ógra Shinn Féin is the youth wing of Sinn Féin - the prefix Ógra has a grammatical effect on the next word Sinn. This is known as a Séimhiú and changes the spelling of Sinn to Shinn pronounced (hinn) - so NO we were not trying to confuse people or pretend not to be SF as was suggested by members of the 'campaign for a better Union' AKA the DUA - we were quite clearly running as ÓSF.
Secondly, being a republican and being sectarian is a contradiction. Have you read the 1916 proclamation? or the republican principles laid down by Wolfe Tone and the United Irishmen? Ógra Shinn Féin have been continually active in opposition to racism and sectarianism in all its forms - as was evident in Queens on the 14th of Feb this year - Valentines Day - with a day of action encouraging people to 'kiss goodbye to racism and sectarianism'.
As for my attendance at council - The SRC has become a joke - It is almost entirely consumed with the pointless political, bigotted, sectarian point scoring exercises of those who care more about their own careers and CV's than they do about real student issues. Quite similar infact to alot of the posting that goes on in this blogspot. Hopefully next year a strong executive will give proper leadership to a Union and coucil that is actually 'representative' and not exploited by those whose idea of a 'better Union' is a Union without a fenian about the place! Even Big Ian has started to say yes - maybe a few of the next generation should try doing the same.
Sin é
"As for my attendance at council - The SRC has become a joke - It is almost entirely consumed with the pointless political, bigotted, sectarian point scoring exercises of those who care more about their own careers and CV's than they do about real student issues."
Reminds me of the 2004/2005 council yrs!
Who was Deputy President then?
Poor Dermot,
Doesn't say much when he can get beaten by a well known DUA member in a largely RC university.
its got nothing to do with religion so why emphasise the fact that the majority of the University is RC??
If u want to look at it from a political perspective it was a split vote between me and greg which allowed the DUA to get in coupled with the fact that the majority of people voting for 'campaign for a better union' didnt know it was the DUA.
Fair play to Sharon though, wouldnt want to take anything away from her win or her campaign like she did to mine - im not bitter. And good to see a good gender balance on next years executive.
Your a good man dermott, with a bit of sincerity about you. (Can't be said for others)
Accepting defeat with a bit of grace. others should try that don't you think?
"the majority of people voting for 'campaign for a better union' didnt know it was the DUA. "
Was the campaign VP welfare candidate not the election co-ordinator for an SDLP MLA and head of Queens SDLP?
From what I can remember only of the better union sabbatical candidates was a member of the DUP.
Very DUA Dermot LMAO
I wonder just who anon could be.... Eddie???
If people would vote for Shinners (Terrorists) why wouldn't they vote for the DUA (Not Terrorists)?
Quite true that Queen's being mainly RC has nothign to do with the Shinners defeat this time round, though points the way that many of those RC votes must be going! Also perhaps the cross-community "Better-Union" campaign, working for the Union instead of the "Ireland of Equals", in a Union election, seemed more appropraite?
"If people would vote for Shinners (Terrorists) why wouldn't they vote for the DUA (Not Terrorists)?"
A more pertinent question would be:
If people would vote for Shinners (Terrorists) why wouldn't they vote for the DUA (who are coalition partners of terrorists)?
Change the record Sammy.
Sammy,
Is it correct that you voted for nationalists?
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