Campaign at Cardiff university is important, says Jeremy Miles MS
THE Minister for Welsh Language and Education is supporting the campaign for a full-time Welsh language officer at Cardiff University.
Jeremy Miles said the matter was important and expects the motion to be passed by the Board of Trustees of Cardiff Students’ Union.
The motion, put forward by the current part-time Welsh language officer Annell Dyfri, passed in the Students’ Union annual meeting on November 25.
Senedd member Cefin Campbell, who put forward the question to Mr Miles, also supports the campaign.
“Such an officer could provide important services to students through the medium of Welsh; arrange events to raise awareness of the language, and ensure that the voice of Welsh speakers could be heard within the union,” said Mr Campbell.
The Board of Trustees will meet on December 16 to discuss the motion alongside others that passed in the annual meeting.
In 2018 a similar motion was put but the board decided not to create an eighth sabbatical officer.
Campaigners are determined to put pressure on the board this time and have ramped up their campaign.
Mr Campbell and fellow Rhys ab Owen have voiced their support after meeting the SU’s Welsh Language Student Committee.
“It’s hard to believe that Cardiff university, in the capital of Wales doesn’t have a full-time officer,” said Mr Campbell.
“It is essential that Welsh language services are offered to the 3,000 Welsh language students at the university.
“Not only in terms of their rights, but it’s also a matter of principle.”
UMCC has created a Twitter account to raise awareness of the campaign and expand its audience.
Deio Owen, 21, who runs the account, said: ““The more people that know about our campaign, the greater the support will be.
“Welsh is a language for everyone, and those who live and breathe the language, of all ages, will know the importance of this issue.”
A-level students have also shown their support.
Osian Davies, a sixth-form student at Ysgol Glantaf said: “Why would I choose Cardiff University, a university that doesn’t appreciate my language at all?”
Another student, who wanted to remain anonymous, said: “If I saw no representation of Welsh culture in the Students’ Union I’d be very disappointed, I wouldn’t feel like I was in Wales.”
One former student and Welsh Commissioner worker, Elin Maher, 49, believes it’s essential for Welsh language students to have a complete educational experience in their own language.
“It’s essential that there is a path for Welsh language support for students.
“The majority of them come from a Welsh language or bilingual school, but then they come to university and the language isn’t transitioned into the students’ union body.
“It would’ve been a big help for me to have a Welsh language officer. I couldn’t write my essays in Welsh because there was no-one in the department that could speak it.
“There was no-one for me to turn to for advice.”
The current full-time Welsh language officer at Swansea University, Gwern Dafis, believes a full-time role would benefit Cardiff.
“Through introducing Welsh language policy there was increased awareness of our language across the Students’ Union.
“The role has been a success here in Swansea so there’s no reason why it can’t be a success in other universities.”
December 7 was Welsh Language Rights day, a celebration of the Welsh Language Measure passed by the Welsh Assembly in 2011.
The measure ensures the establishment of rights to use Welsh when dealing with public organisations.
The SU does not have a Welsh language website, which goes against this measure.
Current student Nansi Eccott requested the SU’s bylaws in Welsh on December 1 but still has not received them.
She said: “It’s disgusting. It goes against my rights as a Welsh speaker to get services in my own language.
“This whole campaign is about more than getting an eighth officer, it’s about our simple rights as Welsh speakers in our own country.”
If you wish to sign the petition created by Annell, details can be found here.
