EXCLUSIVE: Trinity College has not officially approved divestment plans, despite “hearing students concerns about the situation in the Middle East”

The College Council at Trinity College, Cambridge reportedly voted to remove the college’s investments in early March according to “well-informed” student sources, the Middle East Eye (MEE) reported (12/05), as students in a Solidarity Camp outside King’s College continue to protest. A university-wide divestment from arms companies, including Trinity College’s funding of Elbit Systems, are one of its central demands.

However, this timeline of events has been disputed. No official divestment plans have been, as of yet, approved.  The college told Per Capita that ‘Trinity College continues to review its investments regularly.’ 

The latest report from the Middle East Eye suggested that the college decided to not announce its plans to divest after a portrait of Lord Arthur Balfour was defaced by an activist on the 8th of March. This was swiftly condemned by politicians, with Deputy PM Oliver Dowden saying he was “appalled by the moronic act of wonton vandalism”. 

“Senior College Officers have met with students to hear their concerns about the situation in the Middle East”, a spokesperson from Trinity College told Per Capita.

Despite the college’s divestment plans seemingly being approved in March and seemingly listening to student opinion, Per Capita’s Asha Kaur Birdi interviewed students in Trinity College during Lent Term and throughout the Easter vacation.

“As a bursary recipient, it makes you feel like you’re using blood-stained money”, said medical student, Angelica Akrami. Akrami suggests that the college’s arms funding made her “feel complicit” over the “unspeakable loss of life”. 

Akrami told Per Capita that she “emailed the Master three times” throughout Lent Term to express concern over the college’s links to Israeli arms. “Her PA replied to say she is too busy”.

Divestment from Arms companies is a central goal of the student solidarity camps. “The University of Cambridge has millions in Investments and Research Grants with Arms Companies that are currently bombing kids as we speak… there are no universities left in Gaza… as an educational institution, it is disgusting that we are complicit in this”, said a spokesperson from the Cambridge University solidarity camp erected outside of King’s College.

We put Akrami’s claims to the college. “Throughout the academic year College Officers and staff in support roles engage with the student body in various fora, including the liaison committee, formal meetings, pastoral settings, and receptions, including with the Master of the College”, a spokesperson from Trinity College told Per Capita. 

TCSU has been contacted for comment.