Trinity College Dublin Academics for Palestine (TCD AfP) state that they have been “blocked” from sitting on the taskforce agreed as a term of the encampment agreement made on 8th May 2024.
TCD AfP member and Assistant Professor of Geography Rory Rowan stated to The University Times “We have expert knowledge, and we’re not being represented”.
The activist group sent a press release claiming that the taskforce is “designed to do nothing” and have criticised the taskforce’s stalling.
TCD AfP writes that the agenda of the taskforce has changed since the agreement was made to create a taskforce.
“Instead the remit of the taskforce has been broadened, with any mention of Palestine, Israel, genocide, human rights, etc. omitted,” TCD AfP states.
A recent statement from the College’s press office on the taskforce’s composition and goals state that the taskforce “will address the issues raised in the resolution statement (8th May) arising from the encampment regarding the conflict in Gaza”.
The College’s statement does not mention Israel or Palestine, or cutting ties with Israel, but does mention Gaza.
TCD AfP claims that “Such expansive framing is clearly intended to avoid ‘singling out’ Israel, and its vagueness and imprecision seem designed to ensure Trinity will not take any measures to sanction Israel”.
The taskforce will meet for the first time on November 22nd, with a total of 26 members sitting on the committee. Fifteen members are appointed by the College’s selection. Nine members of the group will be appointed from the Group of Unions, Trinity College Dublin Students Union, and the Central Societies’ Committee.
TCD AfP writes of the taskforce’s make-up that: “Membership reflects Trinity Governance structures but not expertise. Direct AfP TCD representation has been blocked, and there is no clarity on how College Officers will be expected to consult or represent their constituents (staff and students) or how submissions from the community or “invit[ed] presentations” will be selected.”
When it was communicated to the activist group over the summer that AfP TCD could not sit on the taskforce due to their lack of formal representation as a College body, the group then went into talks with trade unions.
TCD AfP approached trade unions, which have the ability to nominate representatives to the taskforce, to consider nominating a member of TCD AfP to the taskforce. According to Rowan, AfP TCD were denied representation by the Irish Federation of University Teachers (IFUT).
In a statement to The University Times, a College Spokesperson stated that “The Taskforce will address the issues raised in the resolution statement (8th May) arising from the encampment regarding the conflict in Gaza, by developing a set of ethical principles to inform future links and exchanges between Trinity College Dublin and higher education institutions and commercial enterprises in jurisdictions where armed conflicts occur and / or there are violations of international law;
Existing representative organisations of College are on the Taskforce alongside key College Officers. For example, as has been announced already, the 26 members of the Taskforce will include four nominated by the Group of Unions.”
Two other participants in May’s BDS encampment have spoken to The University Times under the condition of anonymity expressing their disappointment with the College’s taskforce.
