Atlantic Technology University appears to be encouraging staff and students at the institution to vote ‘yes yes’ in the upcoming referenda on redefining the meaning of the family and on article 42.1 of the constitution, commonly referred to as ‘women in the home’.
In an email sent from the multi-campus university’s Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion unit seen by Gript, the college points staff and students in the direction of the ‘Yes’ campaign’ and a number of leading campaign groups such as the National Women’s Council of Ireland which uses government and HSE grants to pay for 96% of its staffing costs as reported by Gript’s Gary Kavanagh.
The email makes no reference to the ‘No’ campaign.
It says, “The Family and Care Referendums will take place on Friday, 8th of March. The National Women’s Council and their civic society partners (who include, amongst others, USI, One Family, Family Carers Ireland & Outhouse) have launched their #YesYes campaign in support of the proposed changes to the constitution.”
Pointing staff and students to where they can get information on voting ‘yes’ it says, “The National Women’s Council will have information stands on the Galway, Mayo, Sligo and Letterkenny ATU campuses during the EDI Roadshow week, full details below. You can find out more about their campaign at YesYes.ie” it says.
It directs recipients to find “relevant information regarding the proposed constitutional amendments” on the Electoral Commission’s website.
Encouraging recipients to check that they are on the voting register it says, “In a recent interview on RTE Radio One Dr Katriona O’Sullivan, author and lecturer at Maynooth University made compelling arguments as to why she is voting Yes on March 8th. Click here to listen.”
Gript contacted the communications officer at Atlantic Technology University asking why it appears the institution is encouraging staff and students to vote a certain way in the upcoming referendums and advising them of our deadline.
At the time of publication we are yet to receive a response and will update this article should one be received.
ATU says its Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion policy is “committed to creating an environment where diversity is celebrated.”
Atlantic Technological University says the institution “is committed to being a diverse, equal and inclusive university and is making progress on embedding equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) across everything we do.”