Cambridge master ‘regrets’ Ukraine fund, claiming it ‘set a precedent’ for future conflicts

The master of Trinity College has allegedly admitted that she “regrets” setting up a fund targeted at Ukrainian students, as it has “set a precedent” for support to be provided during future conflicts.

Professor Dame Sally Davies reportedly told Trinity College Student’s Union (TCSU) members that setting up the fund in response to the outbreak of conflict in Ukraine had been a “mistake”, after they accused her of “double standards” in the college’s response to the conflict in Gaza, Daily Mail reports. 

In 2022, Trinity College established a £250,000 relief fund for “future Trinity and Cambridge students facing hardship arising from the invasion of their country” and for Ukrainian students “seeking refuge at Cambridge and other universities in the UK and EU”.

At the time, Professor Davies applauded this effort, stating that “expressing concern and solidarity is important” and that she was “proud” that Trinity had created this fund.

In light of the current conflict in Gaza, a pro-Palestinian student at a TCSU meeting with Professor Davies and other senior members of college staff reportedly questioned why “no dedicated support of a similar nature was made despite the unprecedented impact Israel’s war has had on the education of Palestinians”.

This led Professor Davies to allegedly admit that offering the support fund in response to the conflict in Ukraine had been a “mistake”, as it had “set a precedent for responses to war and humanitarian crises”.

Trinity College has further angered pro-Palestinian students as it has failed in its pledge to divest in arms companies.

In July, the college pledged to review its arms investments following a wave of pro-Palestinian protests at the university last summer, with the group Cambridge for Palestine setting up an encampment on King’s Parade.

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Palestine for Cambridge’s encampment on King’s Parade (Image credit: Iris Rodgers)

This encampment was closed by the group following the university’s pledge to review its investments into arms companies through a “student-led” working group.

A spokesman for Trinity College said: ‘The comments referred to were part of a wider discussion about the ability and role of educational and charitable institutions, including Trinity College, to respond to conflict.

‘The master stands by the college’s support for students and academics affected by conflict in Ukraine and elsewhere and fully supports its ongoing commitment to do what it can to support them.

‘This is reflected in Trinity’s most recent donation to the Rowan Williams Studentship Programme, which is intended for students from areas of instability and conflict, including the Middle East, as well as those facing discrimination, persecution, suffering, violence, or any other abuse of their rights.”