UK’s richest college ‘regrets’ helping Ukraine – reports
According to a student newspaper, Sally Davies, the head of Trinity College in Cambridge, has expressed her “regrets” about establishing a Ukrainian relief fund. Read Full Article at RT.com
TroibNews 
Students at Cambridge’s Trinity College have voiced their dissatisfaction with the institution for not providing equal support to those affected by the Israel-Hamas war.
Professor Dame Sally Davies, the head of Trinity College, acknowledged during a Friday meeting that establishing a relief fund for Ukrainians was a “mistake.” She expressed her “regret” regarding the “precedent” that the fund set for the institution's response to conflicts, as reported by Varsity, the university's student newspaper.
As the UK’s wealthiest college, Trinity divested from Russian companies and set up a £250,000 relief fund in 2022 to assist students and scholars from Ukraine amid the ongoing conflict. However, following the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza in October of last year, Trinity did not extend similar support to Palestinians despite repeated calls from its student body.
Activists have organized numerous protests across Cambridge campuses over the past year, advocating for equal treatment regarding both conflicts and urging Trinity to divest from arms companies “complicit in Israel’s genocide” in Gaza. Varsity cited freedom of information requests indicating that Trinity holds investments in various arms companies, including Israel-based Elbit Systems, which is reported to produce approximately 85% of the drones and land-based equipment used by the Israeli army.
At a recent meeting with representatives from Trinity’s undergraduate and postgraduate student unions, Davies reportedly stated that the college had “no interest in divesting from arms companies,” affirming that there was a “consensus” among the administration on this stance. When questioned about the possibility of creating a relief fund for Gaza similar to the one established for Ukraine, Davies allegedly expressed her “regret” for approving the Ukraine support fund initially, noting that it unintentionally set a “precedent” for the college's future responses to wars and humanitarian crises.
Davies’ comments contrast with previous commitments made by Trinity College. Following protests in July, the college announced plans to review its investments and form a “student-led task force” to offer guidance on arms policies.
Students present at the meeting confronted Davies about the perceived “double standards” in the college's approach to conflicts; however, Davies did not respond to these concerns.
A spokesperson for Trinity later attempted to clarify Davies' remarks, suggesting they were part of a broader discussion on how to address conflicts. The spokesperson emphasized that Trinity had initiated various support programs beyond the Ukrainian fund for “students from conflict zones and areas of instability, including in the Middle East.”
According to sources within the Trinity fellowship who spoke to Varsity, there is still a possibility that the college may divest from arms manufacturers, as many within the administration feel it is inappropriate for an educational institution to profit from investments in weapons.
Pro-Palestinian activists have been staging protests at universities and colleges worldwide over the past year, largely echoing the demands of Trinity students. They are calling for an end to any business dealings with Israel and firms that support its military efforts in Gaza.
James del Carmen contributed to this report for TROIB News
Professor Dame Sally Davies, the head of Trinity College, acknowledged during a Friday meeting that establishing a relief fund for Ukrainians was a “mistake.” She expressed her “regret” regarding the “precedent” that the fund set for the institution's response to conflicts, as reported by Varsity, the university's student newspaper.
As the UK’s wealthiest college, Trinity divested from Russian companies and set up a £250,000 relief fund in 2022 to assist students and scholars from Ukraine amid the ongoing conflict. However, following the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza in October of last year, Trinity did not extend similar support to Palestinians despite repeated calls from its student body.
Activists have organized numerous protests across Cambridge campuses over the past year, advocating for equal treatment regarding both conflicts and urging Trinity to divest from arms companies “complicit in Israel’s genocide” in Gaza. Varsity cited freedom of information requests indicating that Trinity holds investments in various arms companies, including Israel-based Elbit Systems, which is reported to produce approximately 85% of the drones and land-based equipment used by the Israeli army.
At a recent meeting with representatives from Trinity’s undergraduate and postgraduate student unions, Davies reportedly stated that the college had “no interest in divesting from arms companies,” affirming that there was a “consensus” among the administration on this stance. When questioned about the possibility of creating a relief fund for Gaza similar to the one established for Ukraine, Davies allegedly expressed her “regret” for approving the Ukraine support fund initially, noting that it unintentionally set a “precedent” for the college's future responses to wars and humanitarian crises.
Davies’ comments contrast with previous commitments made by Trinity College. Following protests in July, the college announced plans to review its investments and form a “student-led task force” to offer guidance on arms policies.
Students present at the meeting confronted Davies about the perceived “double standards” in the college's approach to conflicts; however, Davies did not respond to these concerns.
A spokesperson for Trinity later attempted to clarify Davies' remarks, suggesting they were part of a broader discussion on how to address conflicts. The spokesperson emphasized that Trinity had initiated various support programs beyond the Ukrainian fund for “students from conflict zones and areas of instability, including in the Middle East.”
According to sources within the Trinity fellowship who spoke to Varsity, there is still a possibility that the college may divest from arms manufacturers, as many within the administration feel it is inappropriate for an educational institution to profit from investments in weapons.
Pro-Palestinian activists have been staging protests at universities and colleges worldwide over the past year, largely echoing the demands of Trinity students. They are calling for an end to any business dealings with Israel and firms that support its military efforts in Gaza.
James del Carmen contributed to this report for TROIB News
