Letter to the Editor:
For the students who didn’t get a ticket to Hunter Biden, who thought it was mad that Joe Biden was on campus. The average student, who is supportive of Gaza and the work done by Trinity BDS. Who avoids coke but maybe has one in coppers with a double vodka, every now and then. Who has gone to a Hist debate at some point and is probably not reading this UT article.
Average Trinity students,
I want to, on your behalf, point out some things to Trinity BDS.
Joe Biden still holds an Honorary Doctorate from Trinity; BDS are not publicly calling on revoking this. Joe Biden still holds a Gold Medal from The Phil; BDS are not publicly calling for the Phil to request it back; instead, they call for repealing Hist membership because the Hist let a man attend a talk given by his son.
The position Trinity BDS holds within the Trinity Student politics is interesting; talk to members of the BDS committee, and they speak interchangeably of holding campaigns, BDS committee positions and their future sabbatical roles. BDS is a stepping stone; Palestine is an issue to build personal brands on.
The protest of Joe Biden made international news, drawing attention to Gaza; the world’s attention needs to be on Gaza. Campaigns against Trinity societies only increase the energy spent on internal Trinity politics rather than the Genocide we, and particularly BDS, should be focused on.
So, speaking for the students who weren’t there, thank you to all the students who protested Joe Biden’s arrival. The world should know that Ireland stands with Gaza and that we do not condone his actions, but Joe Biden is no longer president; the focus should be on the students and citizens who are still stuck in Gaza, not on going after a Trinity student society that hosts debates.
Cathal Horgan
Final-year Biomedical Engineering
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