On Tuesday 26th September, Magee Ogra Shinn Fein held a recruitment drive in the university grounds. The Magee cumann has been active in the University for a number years and still remains the only active political society on the campus.
Ogra Shinn Fein were ecxluded from the freshers fayre as they refused to sign the political protocol which was introduced by the University of Ulster and endorsed by the Students Union.
The protocol censors political activity and effectively meant that Ogra could not hand out any literature which which would identify them as being a political society. Undeterred by this absurd decision, the cumann set up outside the Sports Hall.
It was not long before fellow students began approaching the stall to show their solidarity with Ogra. The interest in joining exceeded previous years with over 50 people signing up to join Ogra Shinn Fein.
Local Sinn Fein activists and elected represented including Raymond McCartney MLA came along to show their support and to protest at the University of Ulster policy of censorship.
Chairperson of the Magee cumann Gerry O'Neill said,
"I was delighted by the response we received in our recruitment drive especially in light of the political protocoll which was designed to hinder recruitment of political parties, especially Ogra who are by far the strongest political society in the University of Ulster"
He added,
"Whilst some political parties arrived to put a few posters up only to disappear a short time after, Ogra had a visible precence in the University all day, once again demonstrating hard work and not just turning up for a quick photo opportunity. Once again young Republicans have spoken out and refused to be treated like second class citizens"
He concluded
"I am calling on the University to scrap this policy of censorship and to pursue a policy of inclusivity which encourages debate between all sections of society."
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