MLAs Urge Universities to Discipline Holylands Students
Session: 2008/2009
Date: 18 March 2009
Reference: E&L04/08/09
At its meeting today, the Assembly’s Employment and Learning Committee condemned as outrageous the behaviour of students in the Holylands area yesterday.
Members of the Committee discussed the incident and voiced their support for Queen’s University and the University of Ulster to take action to discipline the students involved.
Chairperson of the Committee, Sue Ramsey MLA said, “This is a disgraceful display of anti-social behaviour that shows students in a very poor light. Although only a minority of students were involved in this sorry episode, the reputation of all students in the area will suffer. We support the Minister for Employment and Learning, Sir Reg Empey’s, call for the university vice-chancellors to act.”
Deputy Chair person of the Committee, Robin Newton MLA added, “This behaviour is unacceptable and no student involved should be left in any doubt that this Committee will expect to see appropriate action from the authorities of the universities.”
Anna Lo, Committee member and MLA for the area commented, “I have told members of the Committee how local residents have been left traumatised and fearful. They could not have imagined that a day of celebration would turn into this kind of hooliganism. The community is investing heavily in the future of these students and this kind of behaviour is not going to be tolerated.”
The Committee intends to ensure that the universities pursue the perpetrators of the trouble and properly discipline them.
