The master of the wealthiest college in the University of Cambridge privately admitted to pro-Palestinian students that she ‘regrets’ setting up a £250,000 Ukrainian fund as it ‘set a precedent’ for future conflicts.
Professor Dame Sally Davies, the head of Trinity College, allegedly confessed that it was a mistake to financially support students affected by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine – after being accused of ‘double standards’.
When Trinity College established the Ukrainian fund and divested from Russian companies in 2022, Professor Davies said ‘expressing concern and solidarity’ was vital.
‘So too is offering concrete assistance to those in need,’ she added. ‘I am proud that Trinity has created a relief fund for students and scholars from Ukraine and we are working with our partners at Cambridge to make best use of this resource.’
But when Israel launched its invasion of Gaza in response to the October 7 Hamas attacks, pro-Palestine students questioned why a similar response was not being actioned.
The university was engulfed in protests over the summer, with students setting up Gaza encampments and marching through the city calling for ties to be cut with Israel-linked businesses as well as demanding financial support for Palestinian students.
After the pro-Palestine protests took over the university, Trinity pledged to review its investments into arms companies in July, but has not divested from any yet, The Times reports.
Professor Dame Sally Davies (pictured), the head of Trinity College, allegedly confessed it was a mistake to financially support students affected by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine
Dozens of students set up an encampment in front of King’s College in Cambridge over the summer
The wealthy college also donated £150,000 to the Rowan Williams Cambridge Studentship programme, which supports students coming from areas of conflict.
But the anger from students shows no sign of abating as they feel the university has not specifically expressed support for the Palestinian cause.
Professor Davies and other senior bosses at the college met with Trinity College student union members last month to raise their concerns.
They also addressed false reports that the college had cut ties with arms companies.
Professor Davies reportedly told union reps that Trinity has ‘no interest in divesting from arms companies’ and that there was a ‘consensus’ against cutting ties in the college, according to the university’s newspaper, Varsity.
But an individual who was present told The Times that students tried to call the professor out on the ‘double standards’ of the college’s response to the invasion of Ukraine.
The student said they compared the Russia-Ukraine war to ‘the ongoing crisis in Gaza’, adding that ‘no dedicated support of a similar nature was made despite the unprecedented impact Israel’s war has had on the education of Palestinians’.
They added: ‘The master admitted their response to Ukraine was a ‘mistake’; as it set a precedent for responses to war and humanitarian crises.’
Cambridge for Palestine group setup an encampment outside the front of King’s College in May and handed a list of demands to the University
The Times reports that Trinity College’s net assets grew by £206million to £2.2billion last year, mainly as a result of an increase in the valuation of its investments, which are worth more than £176million.
Trinity has kept investments in several arms companies, including Elbit Systems, which produces drones and land-based equipment used by the Israel Defence Forces.
A spokesman for Trinity College said: ‘The comments referred to were part of a wider discussion about the ability and role of educational and charitable institutions, including Trinity College, to respond to conflict.
‘The master stands by the college’s support for students and academics affected by conflict in Ukraine and elsewhere and fully supports its ongoing commitment to do what it can to support them.
‘This is reflected in Trinity’s most recent donation to the Rowan Williams Studentship Programme, which is intended for students from areas of instability and conflict, including the Middle East, as well as those facing discrimination, persecution, suffering, violence, or any other abuse of their rights.’
The Trinity College has donated £300,000 to the Rowan Williams Studentship since the war in Ukraine began.
It also further pledged a sum in support of the University Humanitarian Response Fund and has worked with the Council for At-Risk Academics to provide support for scholars seeking refuge at Cambridge and other universities in the UK and EU.