Around sixty students of Trinity College Dublin have set up camp on its front lawn, making demands for the institution to sever its links with Israel. The sit-in began on Fellows Square at 8.30pm, replicating similar protests that have been seen across university campuses in America.
Outgoing TCD students union president, László Molnárfi, announced an official statement on platform X. He stated that the student engagement in a camp-out, following the principles of Boycott, Divest, Sanction (BDS), is a firm appeal for the university to cut ties with Israel. BDS is a campaign backed by the majority of both the students and staff. In another post, Molnárfi shared a photo showing park benches being heaped at the entrance of the Old Library, home to the Book of Kells.
TCD confirmed that it recognises the students’ rights to protest within university rules and is closely supervising the on-going situation. An official statement assures that the campus access is limited to those with valid college ID, involving staff, students and residents.
The university also indicated via its booking portal that the Book of Kells Experience would be unavailable on Saturday May 4th due to unforeseen circumstances. This closure of the Old Library impacts both students, staff and international researchers utilising it, as well as the many student members of its staff base.
Previously, many TCD staff and postgraduates signed a request urging the university provost to reassess connections to Israeli establishments.
The university maintains an endowment fund which is overseen by investment managers and not the college itself. The fund’s company preferences are directed by the UN Global Compact Violators List, the UN Level 5 Controversy List and the Environmental, Social, Governance (ESG) company performance. An official comment highlighted that some modifications with references to the UN blacklist have been made to the portfolio in recent months.
TCD’s management justified its decision to impose a €214,000 fine on its students’ union on Friday, attributed to the financial impacts of disturbances caused by protests throughout the last year.
Numerous times since last September, union and protest groups have actively hindered entry to the Book of Kells in response to concerns such as tuition hikes and the university’s position on Gaza. This approach has elicited condemnation from students, scholars, and a few politicians who perceive it as an effort to quell student demonstrations. Trinity College Dublin responded, stating that it is a non-profit entity requiring more than mere government funding to sustain itself.
Jeffrey Sardina, a representative of TCD’s Postgraduate Workers’ Organisation (PWO), was cautioned that he may be barred from graduating if he, or the union, fail to pay the imposed fine. The institution summoned Sardina to a meeting with the Junior Dean to discuss his involvement, and that of other students, in restricting access to the Book of Kells on-campus. The written notification further indicated that, unless the fine was paid, it could result in a “university debt that must be settled before one can graduate.”