27 August 1998 Edition
Student row erupts over Drumcree
by Sean O'Tuama
A bitter row has erupted within the National Union of Students/Union of Students in Ireland which calls into question the ability of its Regional convenor, Maurice Dickson.
The row has been caused by Dickson, along with Andrew Pakes, the president of the English NUS, issuing a fax during the Drumcree crisis defending the Orange Order. The statement claimed that the majority of people in the order were ``law abiding, deeply religious men and women who want civil and religious liberty for all.''
Under pressure from Irish and British student union officers, Dickson has agreed to retract his comments and to print a public apology in the union magazine `Network'.
Eoin O'Broin, the national organiser of Sinn Fein Youth, who highlighted Dickson's stance, has called on the union leader to resign ``as he is patently incapable of representing all the students which affiliate to his organisation.'' O'Broin added that ``NUS/USI as a body has a responsibility to remain above politics and represent all of its members equally. Dickson's partisan and inaccurate defence of the Orange Order and his call for political vetting on matters relating to the Six Counties is not only a flagrant breach of the NUS/USI constitution, but highlights his inability to hold the office of regional convenor. I am today calling for his resignation.''
When contacted by An Phoblacht Dickson again apologised for his comments and denied consulting the Orange Order before issuing the statement. He said the comments were ``an obvious mistake'' partially due to only being in the post for ``five or six days'' before making them. When asked if he would resign he said, ``I don't feel it would be appropriate.''
The Union of Students in Ireland, based in Dublin, confirmed that they knew nothing of Dickson's original comments until after they had been released to the public. Vice President, Ronan Emmett, said that the USI were ``very annoyed'' at the remarks and added that they ``should never have gone out.'' Asked what he thought of the calls for Dickson to resign, Emmett said ``I wouldn't like to comment.''
Pakes, whose name appeared on the original pro-Orange fax, was avoiding the media at the start of this week.
A bitter row has erupted within the National Union of Students/Union of Students in Ireland which calls into question the ability of its Regional convenor, Maurice Dickson.
The row has been caused by Dickson, along with Andrew Pakes, the president of the English NUS, issuing a fax during the Drumcree crisis defending the Orange Order. The statement claimed that the majority of people in the order were ``law abiding, deeply religious men and women who want civil and religious liberty for all.''
Under pressure from Irish and British student union officers, Dickson has agreed to retract his comments and to print a public apology in the union magazine `Network'.
Eoin O'Broin, the national organiser of Sinn Fein Youth, who highlighted Dickson's stance, has called on the union leader to resign ``as he is patently incapable of representing all the students which affiliate to his organisation.'' O'Broin added that ``NUS/USI as a body has a responsibility to remain above politics and represent all of its members equally. Dickson's partisan and inaccurate defence of the Orange Order and his call for political vetting on matters relating to the Six Counties is not only a flagrant breach of the NUS/USI constitution, but highlights his inability to hold the office of regional convenor. I am today calling for his resignation.''
When contacted by An Phoblacht Dickson again apologised for his comments and denied consulting the Orange Order before issuing the statement. He said the comments were ``an obvious mistake'' partially due to only being in the post for ``five or six days'' before making them. When asked if he would resign he said, ``I don't feel it would be appropriate.''
The Union of Students in Ireland, based in Dublin, confirmed that they knew nothing of Dickson's original comments until after they had been released to the public. Vice President, Ronan Emmett, said that the USI were ``very annoyed'' at the remarks and added that they ``should never have gone out.'' Asked what he thought of the calls for Dickson to resign, Emmett said ``I wouldn't like to comment.''
Pakes, whose name appeared on the original pro-Orange fax, was avoiding the media at the start of this week.