Students Supporting Ireland Suspected of Peddling IRA Recruitment Material

Members of CU’s Irxsh community and their allies are in shock after Students Supporting Ireland, a club dedicated to building student solidarity and cultural connection with the Emerald Isle, received notice that they had been placed in bad standing as a student organization while a university-sponsored probe as well as a Department of Homeland Security investigation were being conducted into their activities. The CSI (Center for Student Involvement) notice, shared with The Jump by SSI leadership, mentioned a pamphlet that had been distributed at SSI tabling events that prominently depicted on its front cover an illustration of the Starry Plough flag, which was described as an “inflammatory symbol.” The notice further accused SSI of “promoting terrorist and/or paramilitary ideologies.”

When the Jump contacted the leadership of SSI following the breaking of this story, the sentiment expressed was one of fear and concern for the wider Hibernian and Gael-Positive community at CU Boulder.

“We’re just not sure how to respond,” said SSI President Fergal O’Farrelly. “Our fate hinges on the fact that our words and symbols have been taken to mean something else. It’s disturbing.”

The immediate classification of bad standing further shocked student organizers, who expected some sort of warning. SSI has taken proper recourse and are currently appealing their standing. As to the university probe and DHS investigation, we wish them the best of luck.

Students Supporting Italy, or SSI, faced something similar after a video emerged of an unidentified student being pushed in a gondola down the stairs of Norlin Library against their will. The incident was quickly pinned on SSI despite a lack of evidence, with the organization being notified by CSI that such activities were CUUF (Campus Use of University Facilities) policy violations and that their organization was to be subject to “higher scrutiny.” While they weren’t placed in bad standing, SSI is frustrated at the lack of due process or recourse against this accusation based on “dangerous and Italophobic assumptions.”

“These are terrifying times,” said SSI President Giuliana Spencer. “One bad thing happens to someone and now we’re under attack for celebrating our culture.”

SSI and SSI are not the only student organizations whose existence may be in jeopardy. Students from Springfield, Illinois, or SSI, was recently threatened with probation after a welcome event that included horseshoe sandwiches found to be contaminated with rat excrement. The leadership of the club reported that they received a notice despite there being no cases of illness or hospitalization as a result of the event, since nobody ate any of their sandwiches.