This changes EVERYTHING! Sinn Fein launch petition demanding official support for United Ireland from SU

Tensions ran high in The Space today as QUB Sinn Féin urged students to sign a petition calling on the Student’s Union to support a United Ireland

If more than 600 students sign today’s petition a referendum will be called at the next SU Council under the title “Should Ireland be a united and independent country?”

The motion was proposed by Sean Fearon, president of QUB Sinn Fein and visionary behind last year’s doomed motion to ban the sale of Remembrance Day poppies in a SU.

QUB Sinn Fein campaigned for signatures amid huge crowds at Freshers’ Fair

President Sean Fearon has elevated the Freshers’ Fair beyond getting free stuff and writing your email hundreds of times. Now it’s about political progression and democracy.

“We decided to petition at the Fresher’s Fair because we wanted to open up the new academic year with democracy.”

The Sinn Fein team at the Freshers’ Fair, these guys know how to have fun

In order to be successful, the referendum must get a ‘yes’ vote from more than ten per cent of the student body.

If this percentage of ‘yes’ votes isn’t achieved then the referendum is classed as a recommendation rather than a demand.

DUP Councillor Gordan Lyons, also present at freshers fair, dismissed the petition, saying: “A poll from Queen’s isn’t going to achieve a United Ireland”

Gordon Lyons with DUA Chairperson, these guys know how to have fun too

Students at the Fair were keen to share their views.  Tracy Engels, a member of the Literific told us “Fresher’s is not the right time to petition.”

It will isolate new and international students.Fair enough have a petition, but not now.”

Orla McGurk, secretary of An Cumann Gaelach, disagrees.  “I think it’s great. It’s a promising start to a new term, especially after what happened in Scotland.”

Scotland also tried to organise a Yes vote recently.

Orla McGurk, Third year Irish student

But for the majority of new and returning students at freshers fair, the petition wasn’t important.

Third year Psychology student Jasper Waddell said: “I don’t really care.”

Jasper Waddell, voice of the people?

QUB Sinn Fein will reveal the results of the petition at the end of Freshers’ Fair today.