Auckland University student group denies claims it has white nationalist objectives

Thursday, 2 March 2017

A European students' group has hit back at claims it has white nationalist objectives, saying its aim is simply to 'promote European culture on campus'.

The Auckland University European Students Union faced a backlash after it was announced it would be allowed to recruit at Auckland University's orientation week.

The group displays Celtic symbols, commonly used by white supremacist groups, on its Facebook page.

It also displays artworks depicting Captain Cook and the unification of Germany, alongside slogans such as 'strength through honour' and 'our pride is our honour and loyalty'.

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Auckland University Students' Association (AUSA) president Will Matthews said he had met with senior administrative staff and the university proctor to lay a complaint against the group.

'Students expressed concern about imagery and rhetoric used by the group, which is typical of white supremacist nationalist groups,' he said.

The slogan 'our pride is our honour and loyalty' was very similar to the slogan 'my honour is called loyalty', the motto of the Nazi SS, he said.

'I think that is raising the most alarm. There's a point where fervent nationalism and patriotism becomes white pride, becomes white supremacy.'

In a later statement Williams said the AUSA was 'sceptical of the possibility that someone could accidentally come up with a slogan that evokes Nazi Germany.'

However, AUESA posted two statements on Facebook on Thursday denying claims it was a nationalist association.

'It seems like there has been some gross misunderstanding of what our club is about and who we are,' one of the posts read.

'AUESA is a non-profit organisation that aims to promote European culture on campus through activities such as Medieval re-enaction, outdoor events and concerts, with an European theme as well as European cuisine feasts.

'Our club is open to people of all nationalities and beliefs. We are a strictly non-political organisation.'

In another post, the group said it had 'several Asians' involved in the running of the club and rejected claims of racism.

'There is a club for Pacific Islanders, a Kiwi Asian club, Chinese Students' Association, Indian Society, Malaysian Students' Association, and, of course, clubs for Maori. 

'There is no such group for Europeans despite Europeans accounting for 43 [per cent] of [Auckland University] students.'

The group has not responded to repeated requests for comment.

An Auckland University spokesperson said there was no evidence the club had displayed 'any form of discrimination or racism'.

The group was not yet formally affiliated or supported by the university, or the AUSA, the spokesperson said.

'As the AUSA affiliation process does not occur for a couple of weeks after semester starts, it is normal practice to allow new (yet to be affiliated) clubs to attend clubs expo, so they don't miss out on the opportunity to promote their club and sign up members.'

Four or five other new clubs that had not yet gone through the affiliation process would also participate in the expo, the spokesperson said.

But Bronwyn Hayward, an associate professor of politics at Canterbury University, said the statement was not good enough.

Dear Auckland University, as a mum, an academic, a researcher in democracy & advocate of university freedom, this response is not sufficient https://t.co/JR4cE5IyMJ

— Bronwyn Hayward (@BMHayward) March 1, 2017

Race Relations Commissioner Dame Susan Devoy tweeted that she would be 'keeping an eye on' the club.

'I am a Kiwi with European heritage, I'm very proud of my Irish roots – but this doesn't mean limiting the rights of anyone else.'

For the club to be affiliated to AUSA, it must be voted on by the student body.

In 2012, students voted not to disaffiliate the anti-abortion group ProLife after complaints members were harassing people on campus.