Jack Leahy | News Editor
The Central Societies Committee (CSC) has written to societies to ask them to remove profile pictures containing the rainbow flag, reaffirming its policy that “a society is not allowed to espouse a political opinion”.
As part of the “#FlytheFlag” campaign, a significant number of student organisations have updated their social media profiles to incorporate the rainbow flag into their official logos. While the campaign can be interpreted as supportive of a yes vote in the upcoming marriage equality referendum, no such statement is explicit.
Through an email from administrative officer Lucy O’Connell, societies have been asked to “return society logos to their official colours” as “a committee cannot take a political stance as it may not be representing the views of each and every member.” O’Connell commented that while the request “may seem pedantic,”, it was “not healthy to allow exceptions, however worthy,” to a policy that has been regularly reaffirmed and reasserted in recent years.
The campaign was organised by Kevin Keane, a second-year Law student. Speaking to The University Times, Keane commented that he “never imagined [the campaign would become as popular as it has” and that its purpose is to “represent solidarity with friends in the LGBTQ movement.” Organisations that have taken part so far include Trinity College Dublin Students’ Union (TCDSU), the Graduate Students’ Union (GSU), DU History, the College Historical Society, SUAS Trinity, Trinity Young Fine Gael, DU Caledonian Society, Amnesty International Trinity, and more. At the time of writing, no profile pictures have been reverted, and many have been changed to a rainbow version since the email was sent.
DU History auditor Caroline Nicholson commented that the campaign represents “an exceptional case,” and pointed to the society’s regular support for various causes:
“In principle we understand the rule…however we feel this is an exceptional case. We frequently change our logo to support different issues, whether political or non-political, such as Pink October for breast cancer awareness.”
“We do not feel we are taking a political stance at this time, as our logo makes no direct reference to the referendum. Rather, we are supporting equal civic rights for all people.”
Similarly, a statement posted on the College Historical Society (Hist) Facebook page asserted that “the committee…feel that we have to give out support to this incredibly important issue. There are so many people in our lives that we care about that don’t have equal rights and we feel that we have to stand with them and continue to voice our support of issues that we believe in.” The post went on to clarify that the society would poll its members online to ensure that no one felt alienated by the position.
A spokesperson for Trinity Young Fine Gael also queried the request, commenting that “TCD YFG changing their logo in support of marriage equality is not just representing the views of our committee, or our branch, or our region but is representing the views of Young Fine Gael nationally and Fine Gael, our senior party.”
Student political societies are typically given a wider berth with regards campaigning restrictions, given the nature of such organisations and the fact that most policy positions are arrived at by vote. Trinity Labour, for example, has actively supported a yes vote in the marriage equality referendum through activities on campus.
The same applies for Trinity’s Amnesty International Society, which also changed its profile picture in support of the campaign last night. The society is permitted to espouse the corporate opinion of Amnesty International – which is in support of same-sex marriage – so the society is under no obligation to revert to its original profile picture.
The CSC has a long-standing policy not to allow student societies to espouse a “corporate opinion”. In 2012, the DU Gender Equality Society (DUGES) committee was reminded that its was permitted “to attend marches as individuals and to do so under a corporate banner, but the society itself was not allowed to express a corporate opinion on issues.” Some societies, such as Q Soc, circumvent these restrictions by campaigning in association with the students’ unions.
In a statement to The University Times this afternoon, CSC Secretary, Liam Hunt, reaffirmed the stance, commenting that societies are not “representative bodies” and that such functions are reserved for the Students’ Unions:
“Societies in College are not permitted to espouse opinions. They are not representative bodies, they exist to further their aims as stated in their Constitutions.”
“Societies are constituted by their members and do not have a mandate to selectively represent opinions that members may [or] may not have. The Students’ Union is the body that represents student opinion on campus, not societies.”
The University Times has seen a letter, prepared by society committee members, which will be co-signed and presented to the CSC in response to the claim that their profile picture changes represent political positions.
The letter states: “We disagree with the stance that rainbow colours are political, as both sides of the referendum have LGBT members. We feel that the rainbow flag is not a political statement.”
Damien McClean, LGBT Rights Officer for TCDSU, commented that the campaign “merely shows respect and support for the [LGBT] community,” and asserted that “none of the materials or logos depict any political [position].”
Despite the request for the removal of logos and cover photos, McClean is “excited by the support that Trinity societies have shown to supporting the LGBT community in college.”
Sinéad Baker contributed reporting to this piece
