Dear Vice Chancellor,
Re Ulster University Equality, Diversity & Inclusion Advisor
It has come to my attention that Ulster University employs a Sinn Fein councillor,Cara McShane, as its “Equality, Diversity & Inclusion Advisor”.
How can the entire student body and wider public have confidence in such an appointment, particularly given that Councillor McShane is on record as defending IRA commemorations and describing members of that murderous terrorist organisation as “our dead” (see here https://twitter.com/cara_mcshane/status/980434733321588736?s=46&t=HVkG2Ajw2J75FL0gowxz7A) and promoting commemorations of other IRA terrorists including one for the murderer of young Ballymena mother, Yvonne Dunlop (see enclosed screen shots)?
As an employer do you not have a social media policy for staff and, if so, does it permit such a divisive and partisan social media presence by an employee, particularly one employed as an equality and inclusion officer?
How is it that the university thinks that a politician with such divisive views is suited to this post? What message does it convey, particularly to victims of IRA violence or the relatives of someone who has suffered at the hands of the Provisional movement, that the university retains such a person of partisan public views in such a post? How, in consequence, can one have confidence in the university’s commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion?
Where was Yvonne Dunlop’s right to equality when she was burned to death in her shop by one of those Ms McShane openly celebrates? How did she get an opportunity to contribute to the diversity of society after one of those who Ms McShane commemorates was finished with her? Where was Yvonne Dunlop included in your equality, diversity and inclusion adviser’s vision of inclusion?
Ask yourself those questions honestly and you will see why the university urgently needs to consider this situation.
Yours sincerely