Trinity meets with students in effort to end encampment

Trinity College Dublin has said it is implementing a number of measures which it hopes will lead to a resolution and an end to the student protest camp, nearing the end of a third full day.

In a statement this evening, the University said management representatives met with students this afternoon to discuss the issues they have raised and the measures being taken by TCD.

Around 100 students are staying in an encampment on the campus calling on Trinity College to end all business and academic links with Israel due to the war in Gaza.

In its statement this evening, Trinity college said it fully understands the driving force behind the encampment saying, we are in solidarity with the students in our horror at what is happening in Gaza”.

It said: “Trinity has initiated a process to divest from investments in companies that have activities in the Occupied Palestinian Territory and appear on the UN Blacklist in this regard.”

The university said the process is expected to be completed by June.

Trinity College is also setting up a Task Force, which will include student representatives, with an external chair.

The aim is to “discuss how we continue to preserve academic freedom while understanding better how we engage – or not – with states that are in contravention of human rights”.

The statement said: “We hope that today’s meeting and our firm commitment to implement the series of measures outlined above will lead to a resolution.”

It continued: “In view of the disproportionate response we have seen at some institutions overseas, Trinity is committed to addressing the issue of the encampment as an internal process.”

The university said it hopes to return to normal services for students, staff, and the public as soon as possible and will have another meeting with the student representatives tomorrow.

Speaking earlier today, Lászlo Molnárfi, President TCD Students Union, said the encampment was growing.

“We’ve grown to over 100 people, students and staff at our encampment, we have more than 70 tents at this point.”

He said: “This morning we set up another tent, a huge tent in the middle, it’s still growing.”

Mr Molnarfi said: “The college has begun inviting us in for discussions and we have already managed to get a commitment to divert from three UN blacklisted firms.”