Campus in Uproar after Senate speeds Reappointment of HilLary Clinton to Chancellorship
By Ruby Hegarty
At 9am, on Tuesday 21st November, students stood outside the Lanyon gates to protest the re-appointment of Chancellor Hillary Clinton. The demonstration came after the University Standing Committee recommended to the Senate that Hillary Clinton should be re-appointed as Chancellor at Queen’s. Later, that day, the former US secretary of state was re-appointed in a vote by the University Senate. No students were consulted, and considering Clinton’s comments on Israel/Palestine, many students feel that her political rhetoric vehemently opposes the ethos and values of Queen’s University.
Hillary Clinton, Chancellor of Queen’s, most recently expressed her opposition to a ceasefire in Gaza: stating that those calling for a ceasefire “do not understand Hamas” and that it would give the militant group Hamas “a chance to re-arm and perpetuate the cycle of violence”.
The powerful political figure has repeatedly conveyed a staunch Zionist rhetoric over the last twenty years, attending pro-Israel rallies and confirming “Israel’s right to act militarily and unilaterally”, as reported the New York Times. Amid the current tragedy in Gaza, Mrs. Clinton also wrote for the Jewish Daily Forward, where she vowed to “embrace an extremist agenda on Israel,” promising to invite prime minister Netanyahu to the White House.
Mrs. Clinton’s position as Chancellor has resultantly been called into question, as many students and staff feel that her moral and political stance is not representative of the university.
A statement from the Student Officer Team detailed that the Chancellor’s “personal political connections, and geopolitical relationships… along with some of her stated views on global issues- most recently concerning the tragic and devastating events in Israel/ Palestine- do not adhere to the prescribed values of QUB.”
On campus, outward displays of student dissatisfaction with Mrs. Clinton and the support from Queen’s on her reinstatement are not hard to find. While the protest on the morning of Tuesday 21st November was short-lasting following news of the Senate’s vote; Instagram and Facebook posts, posters and general student discussion continue to express a passionate rejection of Mrs. Clinton’s pro-Israel stance.
The controversy reached a breaking point on Tuesday 21st November, during the demonstration outside the Lanyon gates, when the Student Officer Team heard news of Mrs. Clinton’s re-appointment. This came after the University Standing Committee, a committee devoid of any student representation, gave recommendation to the University Senate for Hillary Clinton’s re-appointment to the position.
The University Senate possesses two student representatives: the Student’s Union President, Beth Elder, and the Student Senate Representative.
At the Senate, both student representatives proposed that “the vote be postponed until the results of the student referendum”- which is due to take place next week, 5th-7th December.
This request was ignored by the Senate, despite prior knowledge that the next Senate meeting commenced on the 12th of December, five days after the planned university-wide referendum.
The Student Officer Team stated: “It is important to note Hillary Clinton’s first term ends on the 31st of December 2023, and the next meeting of the Senate is taking place on 12th December, meaning there was reasonable time to allow for the referendum to take place.”
Hopes for a student referendum were verified after the motion “Decolonise, Demilitarise and Democratise Queen’s University Belfast” was passed in the second Council of the current academic year, on the 15th of November. Although the Senate’s decision not to delay their vote approving Mrs. Clinton’s reinstatement quickly put hopes of a democratic student process to rest.
Speaking of the disappointment with the decision of the Senate, the Student Officer Team said:
“Students should be a key stakeholder in the decision of appointing a Chancellor and at no stage has there been appropriate consultation with students. Had Senate cared about the views of the 25,500 students at Queen’s they could have simply delayed the decision to approve until after Students had a chance to have their say in a referendum, which among other mandates, asks if the Students’ Union should oppose the re-appointment of Hillary Clinton.”
In the event of a successful all-student referendum, the motion “Decolonise, Demilitarise and Democratise Queen’s University Belfast” would mandate the Student Union to:
- Apply pressure on the University to cut ties with institutions that supply arms to states and institutions that violate international law.
- Apply pressure on the University to completely divest from BlackRock Investment Management Fund.
- Apply pressure on the University to dismiss Hillary Clinton as Chancellor.
- Push for all Unions on campus (UCU, Unite, NIPSA…) to have 50% voting rights in the relevant committees that oversee financial decisions and senior staff appointments.
The Student Officer Team makes it clear that a push to prevent the re-appointment of Mrs. Clinton is not done yet. If students vote to pass the motion, the referendum results will provide greater strength and legitimacy to student democracy. Negotiations with the University are underway the SU believes that they will be given more legitimacy should the referendum go in their favour.
Edited by David Williamson
Ruby Hegarty is the News Editor at The Scoop. She is a third year History & Politics student