Statement on Old College Quad protest
A small group of people are occupying the Old College Quad in protest of the ongoing conflict in Israel and Palestine.
The surrounding area remains open and University buildings are operating as normal.
We support the right to take part in lawful, peaceful and respectful protest and we are monitoring the situation to ensure the safety of the protestors, whilst also working to minimise disruption to staff, students and visitors to our campus.
Protest guidance
All members of our community should feel safe and included, and we will never tolerate any form of discrimination, intimidation, incitement, bullying or harassment.
Guidance is available to support staff and students to exercise their right to protest in line with relevant University policies, including our expectations of behaviour and treating others with dignity and respect.
Protest guidelines for staff and students
We are actively considering the relevant definitions that relate to this conflict, including the IHRA working definition.
Israel and Palestine
The continuing violence and loss of life in Palestine is deeply distressing and we understand the strength of feeling on this issue. We are listening to concerns and are engaging directly with student groups on the issues they raise. We hope for an end to the violence, the release of the remaining hostages, and a peaceful resolution to the conflict.
Investments
Our endowment fund does not include any revenue from tuition fees or research funding and we do not hold any investments in Israeli arms.
We have a responsible investment policy in place, which excludes investments in companies operating in certain industries, and we are a signatory of the UN-supported Principles for Responsible Investment.
Research partnerships
All of our research partnerships undergo rigorous due diligence procedures to assess potential risks, to align with best practice, and to comply with our commitment to responsible research.
Any work produced in collaboration with defence companies is tightly defined and dependent on ethical review. If appropriate, research outputs are also subject to UK-wide export control and dual-use regulation.
University of sanctuary
We have a long history as a university of sanctuary and have increased our support for students and academics displaced by conflict around the world.