13 December 2001 Edition
Magee Provost bans Hunger Strike exhibition
The authorities at the Magee Campus of the University of Ulster in Derry are at the centre of a controversy, following a decision by the Provost to ban a photographic exhibition of events surrounding the 1981 hunger Strikes from the college.
The exhibition, which was due to open on Thursday, 6 December, and which has already been shown at other universities throughout Ireland, was banned by Magee Provost Professor Jim Allen, who claimed the university's reputation for impartiality took priority over other considerations.
But the decision has been greeted with anger by the exhibition organisers, who insisted that the students should not be denied the opportunity to find out about this phase in Irish history.
Professor Allen said the request to host the exhibition had been given fullconsideration and went on to say, "it is our policy to encourage the community to avail of our resources and facilities where appropriate, for social and cultural and recreational purposes".
His decision comes despite the showing of the same exhibition at Queen's University in Belfast on Tuesday, which organisers say was viewed by approximately 500 students.
Frank Walsh of the Sinn Féin society at Magee accused the university of singling out and discriminating against his society. Magee Students' Union president, Colm Delaney, said he believed the exhibition should have been admitted to the college.
Two of the hunger strikers who died in 1981, Patsy O'Hara and Michael Devine, were from Derry City.
The exhibition, which was due to open on Thursday, 6 December, and which has already been shown at other universities throughout Ireland, was banned by Magee Provost Professor Jim Allen, who claimed the university's reputation for impartiality took priority over other considerations.
But the decision has been greeted with anger by the exhibition organisers, who insisted that the students should not be denied the opportunity to find out about this phase in Irish history.
Professor Allen said the request to host the exhibition had been given fullconsideration and went on to say, "it is our policy to encourage the community to avail of our resources and facilities where appropriate, for social and cultural and recreational purposes".
His decision comes despite the showing of the same exhibition at Queen's University in Belfast on Tuesday, which organisers say was viewed by approximately 500 students.
Frank Walsh of the Sinn Féin society at Magee accused the university of singling out and discriminating against his society. Magee Students' Union president, Colm Delaney, said he believed the exhibition should have been admitted to the college.
Two of the hunger strikers who died in 1981, Patsy O'Hara and Michael Devine, were from Derry City.