Dear Vice Chancellor Sir Ian Greer and Dear Members of the University Senate,

The riots that took place in Belfast in August 2024 have caused profound fear and anxiety among people connected with Queen’s University, not least our international staff and students, members of minority-ethnic backgrounds, and their families.

Although this violence has fallen off the media’s attention, problems and fear remain.

Staff and students are still apprehensive about their safety, with some altering their routines to avoid potentially dangerous areas, and others keeping their children under curfew. Fear is particularly acute for those who must traverse areas affected by the riots to reach their accommodations. Mention by politicians of a potential involvement of paramilitaries and of a risk to life has not helped.

While we appreciate the Vice Chancellor's August statement condemning the violence, we are concerned that the University has remained silent publicly since, and has not designed a pro-active program to deal with racism and the risk of further attacks, collective or individual.

As one of Belfast’s largest employers and a key influencer in Northern Ireland, Queen’s University has a responsibility to ensure the safety and inclusion of all its members and make its position and action known publicly, to substantiate the vision it says it promotes.

We would like to recommend the following actions:

Short-Term:

• Issue an urgent communication to staff and students detailing planned discussions and actions addressing racism and anti-racism at QUB and in the community.  
• Create safe spaces and resources for students and staff in distress, with a particular focus on student Accommodation.
• Institutionalize and fund multicultural events such as Black History Month, Eid, Diwali, and Lunar New Year as official University events, not reliant on QUB volunteer groups.

Medium-Term Actions:

• Establish a dedicated support unit to proactively combat racism and xenophobia, funded and included in the existing Diversity & Inclusion office, and support a similar unit in the Student Union.
• Secure permanent funding and provide financial and other support for anti-racism and multicultural initiatives.
• Develop a strategic plan to collaborate with local and QUB religious and ethnic minority communities.
• Enhance communication channels with minority groups inside and outside the University.
• Increase diversity within QUB’s higher administration to reflect the communities it serves.

The ultimate goal should be to transform Queen’s University into a truly multicultural and anti-racist institution. We can draw on best practices from Universities UK and comparative institutions like the University of Bristol.  

All initiatives must be communicated publicly to signal Queen’s commitment to diversity and inclusion, and to set a standard for the wider community.

We look forward to seeing tangible actions and a renewed commitment to a safer, more inclusive future for all.

Yours sincerely,