Students at SETU graduation demand college cuts ties with company that supports Israeli military
Mary Lyng protests as she graduated with a BA (hons) in Community Education and Development. Photo: Irish-Palestine Solidarity Campaign, South-East branch
Last Friday, during South East Technological University (SETU)'s graduation ceremonies in Waterford, two students unfurled Palestine flags whilst on stage collecting their degrees. This was in protest against SETU’s link to RedHat, a company whose software is used by the Israeli military.
Whilst being called to the stage to collect her degree during the graduation event, Mary Lyng, a recent student on the BA (Hons) Community Education and Development degree course, and chairperson of the Ireland-Palestine Solidarity Campaign South East branch, unfurled a Palestinian flag and spoke to the large crowd.
“President, I want to say today that while SETU is a fantastic university, SETU has ties with RedHat. RedHat has direct collaboration with genocide by Israel.”
After the crowd erupted in applause and support, Mary Lyng turned to SETU President Veronica Campbell beside her on the stage and continued: “SETU has ethical and moral responsibility to cut ties with RedHat, who has direct collaboration with the genocide of thousands and thousands of people. Please take action now. Saoirse Don Phalaistín!”
Ammar Makki, a member of Gather For Palestine, a group of staff and students in SETU, also unfurled a Palestine flag on stage as he collected his degree.
Speaking after the event, Mary Lyng said: “On proudly receiving my honours degree in Community Education and Development, I used the platform to highlight again the ties SETU has with RedHat. RedHat is a major software engineering company and works extensively and closely with units of the Israeli Military. The international Boycott Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement has confirmed that RedHat is complicit in the ongoing genocide of the Palestinian people.
"One of the main principles of my degree in community education and development is equality. SETU cannot uphold human dignity and social justice while having direct partnership with genocide collaborators RedHat.
"I called on Veronica Campbell today and requested that SETU cut all ties with RedHat and that they have a moral responsibility to do so. I hope she comprehended my request.”
The action follows a recent action last week outside RedHat's offices on the Cork Road in Waterford city, where IPSC South East supporters spoke to RedHat workers about the company's links to the Israeli military, which, according to the UN, is committing genocide against Palestinians. A letter was delivered to Brendan O'Farrell, RedHat’s Waterford site lead and program manager.
SETU was contacted but declined to comment.
