We have received a number of queries regarding an event scheduled to be hosted by a group under the title of Polsoc, with guest speaker Robert Winnicki (who is a well know right-wing Polish extremist), in Aberystwyth later this week.
UPDATE - Response to letter sent to AberSU President from Kay Lancucki (Polish Club Aberystwyth/AberPol)
Following a letter I have received from the president of AberPol, I feel that my first statement has made it clear that the Students' Union finds Robert Winnicki a fascist, far right extremist and as stated below, the Students’ Union is completely opposed to any activity from this individual taking place in Aberystwyth, and would not welcome it in the Students’ Union building or any other premises of the University.
The organisation and myself personally do not in any shape or form believe that the Polish community of Aberystwyth are right wing extremists, sub-human or criminals like the letter received suggests.
If the organisers had been more open and public about this event and the details, this situation would not have become so severe. However, as the organisers of this talk have been very secretive about the details of this event, by placing out a false address and next to no information, this has caused much of the public interest and tension to build up.
With this said, here is the joint reply from the University and the Students' Union.
Ioan Rhys Evans,
President.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
We have received a number of queries regarding an event scheduled to be hosted by a group under the title of Polsoc, with guest speaker Robert Winnicki (who is a well know right-wing Polish extremist), in Aberystwyth later this week. We would like to make it clear that Polsoc is not an affiliated student society with Aberystwyth University Students’ Union. We have been informed by the University that the event will not be taking place on University premises nor is it an official University event. We would like to point out that the Students’ Union does not support extremists or extremist groups in airing their opinions to the student body. As such, the Students’ Union is completely opposed to any activity from this individual taking place in Aberystwyth, and would not welcome it in the Students’ Union building or any other premises of the University.
If any student groups are thinking of/or are holding a rally against this group & speaker please could you either get in touch with myself via union.president@aber.ac.uk or our Campaigns and Democracy officer, Dan Meehan (dam65@aber.ac.uk) so we can support you in running it safely and efficiently.
Ioan Rhys Evans
President