Queen’s University student group launches bi-lingual signs ‘sticker’ protest at ‘monolingual’ campus

https://www.irishnews.com/news/northern-ireland/queens-university-student-group-launches-bi-lingual-signs-sticker-protest-at-monolingual-campus-H6CQOZVEEBHGBMH4VP66LKPZC4/

An Cumann Gaelach slates “decades of inaction” over language policy but unionist student group says stickers create ‘chill factor’

Student activists at Queen’s University have been implementing their own bi-lingual signs policy by placing Irish language stickers at key locations across campus.

The move, by campaign group An Cumann Gaelach, was sparked by “decades of inaction” over language policy at what they say is a “monolingual campus”.

Sharing several examples online, An Cumann Gaelach group said: “As part of our campaign against a monolingual campus, some activists put bilingual signs of their own around campus.

“With the ‘institutional commitment’ the university has made to promote linguistic diversity, we are looking forward to the implementation of official bilingual signage over the weeks and months ahead.”

While the society claims the move was in keeping with the university’s efforts to normalise the Irish language, Jay Basra who chairs the QUB Young Unionists group said it created “a chill factor” for others.

“Queen’s University Belfast is moving towards a digital signage policy, a direction that has been clearly and repeatedly outlined to us during meetings with the administration,” he said.

“This has also been communicated to the group responsible. To those behind the recent ‘stickering’ campaign, if they truly value the Irish language as deeply as they claim, why diminish it by covering the campus with stickers they know will soon be removed?”

Jay Basra was the UUP's Mid Ulster candidate in the recent general election

Jay Basra chairs the QUB Young Unionists group.
“Such actions do little to promote cultural pride and instead undermine the seriousness of their cause.”

He also claimed that a student petition run earlier in the year did not even receive 10% support, adding: “Why impose something the majority do not want?

“There is also a chill factor associated with physical signage. History shows that when similar signage was displayed in the 1980s and 1990s, Unionist students felt discouraged from taking part in Students’ Union life.

“Reintroducing that environment today would be the physical manifestation of the ‘cold house’ perception that this university has worked so hard to move beyond.”

There are currently no plans to formally introduce dual language signs at Queen's University.

An Cumann Gaelach’s Campaigns Officer, Eoghan Ó Conghaile, said the response to the stickers had mainly been positive.

“The stickers included both English and Irish, so you have to understand the imposition of English only signage as a neutral default,” he said.

“I think a better question is to why activists felt they had to go out and do this.”

He added: “I think a lot of opposition to dual language signage is often routed in a lack of knowledge.

“These stickers broaden access to the Irish language, contrary to a lot of media narratives – this doesn’t affect English language signs in any way. This is international best practice and does not infringe on any who wish not to speak Irish.”

He said his group’s consultation into greater visibility for Irish on campus gained 5% support of the student body, but this did not mean the remaining 95% disagreed.

“Opposition to the Irish language on campus can, at times, be rooted in intolerance and we feel that as a leading third level institution that prides itself on inclusivity, Queen’s University should be taking proactive steps in tackling such negative attitudes,” he said.

With “decades of inaction” from the university doing nothing to promote a better understanding of Irish, he said it was “high time for a new approach”.

While no commitment is in place to formally introduce dual language signs at Queen’s University, last week the university reported a 227% increase in the number of students registering for Irish courses.

A QUB spokesperson said: “We are always keen to listen and engage with our student body and the University management has had several meetings with An Cumann Gaelach.

“The University’s (Equality, Diversity and Inclusion) policy includes linguistic and cultural identity, with significant and ongoing progress in the promotion of the Irish language including the recent creation of bespoke accommodation for students who are Irish speakers and the creation of the new post of Irish Language Officer based in the University’s language centre.”