100 signatures reached
To: Queen’s University Belfast
Stop QUB from expelling a student activist
End the serious misconduct investigation into Saoirse Wagner and protect the right to free speech on campus.
Why is this important?
The right to free speech is one of the most important rights we have in our society. Saoirse Wagner, for opposing genocide in campus, faces the possibility of expulsion. Her removal by Queen’s would not just be an infringement on her rights but set a precedent of undemocratic, silencing procedure across QUB. It is important that the right to protest is protected by Queen’s and that disciplinary procedures, such as the one levied against Saoirse, are not weaponised against those deemed subversive by the university.
She faces possible expulsion for her role in a protest at a career's fair on February 5th 2025, which you can see here. The claim, as the investigation has made, that Ms. Wagner brought “the university’s name into disrepute” or “intimidated, harassed, threatened, or bullied” individuals at this protest is false and based on no real evidence. The serious misconduct investigation she is facing, which could see her expulsion from the university, is politically motivated, an affront to the democratic right to protest on campus, and opposed to the public interest.
At all times during the protest, security and police officers were present, and at no point was Ms. Wagner told she was acting in an intimidating, threatening, or otherwise abrasive manner. She is also the only student facing investigation, despite the presence of other students at the protest. This demonstrates that this investigation is targeted and illegitimate, and highlights the need for it to conclude immediately.
The thing which would bring the university’s name into disrepute is not peaceful protest but the expulsion of a student exercising her right to free speech. It is the university’s continued association with and investment into companies tied to Israeli apartheid. To continue this disciplinary procedure and expel Ms. Wagner would not just be an infringement on her democratic rights, but act as a chilling effect on free speech across campus. If Queen’s wishes to defend the right to free speech and protest, as it claims it does, it must end this serious misconduct investigation into Ms. Wagner.
Free Palestine - End Student Repression
She faces possible expulsion for her role in a protest at a career's fair on February 5th 2025, which you can see here. The claim, as the investigation has made, that Ms. Wagner brought “the university’s name into disrepute” or “intimidated, harassed, threatened, or bullied” individuals at this protest is false and based on no real evidence. The serious misconduct investigation she is facing, which could see her expulsion from the university, is politically motivated, an affront to the democratic right to protest on campus, and opposed to the public interest.
At all times during the protest, security and police officers were present, and at no point was Ms. Wagner told she was acting in an intimidating, threatening, or otherwise abrasive manner. She is also the only student facing investigation, despite the presence of other students at the protest. This demonstrates that this investigation is targeted and illegitimate, and highlights the need for it to conclude immediately.
The thing which would bring the university’s name into disrepute is not peaceful protest but the expulsion of a student exercising her right to free speech. It is the university’s continued association with and investment into companies tied to Israeli apartheid. To continue this disciplinary procedure and expel Ms. Wagner would not just be an infringement on her democratic rights, but act as a chilling effect on free speech across campus. If Queen’s wishes to defend the right to free speech and protest, as it claims it does, it must end this serious misconduct investigation into Ms. Wagner.
Free Palestine - End Student Repression
How it will be delivered
We intend to, before the conclusion of Ms. Wagner's investigation, hand in the above petition to QUB's Administration to demonstrate the public's opposition to Saoirse's persecution by the university
GET INVOLVED
If you have signed this petition and are a QUB student or staff member we encourage you to get involved with the QUB Palestine Assembly and organise for a free Palestine and an apartheid-free campus. Please join our WhatsApp here: https://chat.whatsapp.com/DRmwqci5iWbCZmiHweMzmN