Trinity College Students Rally for Divestment and Transparency

Iqra Athar ’26

News Editor

Lucy Sheldon ’27

Contributing Writer

On Oct. 17 and 18, 2024, Trinity Student Coalition for Justice in Palestine (TSCJP) held a series of events as a part of the “Divestment Days of Action.” Supported by various student organizations on campus, these coordinated actions aimed to pressure the Trinity College Board of Trustees to disclose where its endowments are allocated and divest from any companies implicated in global injustices. This weekend marked the biannual meeting of the Board of Trustees, one of the few times they gather together on campus.

The actions began with a silent protest in front of Mather Hall on Oct. 17. Approximately 50 students, many of whom were wearing keffiyehs, gathered quietly at 4:30 p.m. and held posters with messages like “Free Gaza from Palestine” and “Divest from Genocide.” The timing of the protest aligned with a meeting between the Board of Trustees and representatives of the TSCJP. As the meeting progressed inside the library, students outside Mather Hall lined up in two straight rows along the walkway to the building’s front door. The protest was marked by silence as students held their signs, making their message visible to trustees, students, and faculty on their way to dinner and further discussions.

Khaliun Myagmar ’26, a participant at the silent protest, shared the goals of the protest, stating, “It was one of the ways we were trying to be visible and loud in urging the trustees while they were on campus. Disclosure and divestment are not just about money; they’re a moral obligation. We’re demanding divestment for the climate and for the people, especially those suffering from injustice in Gaza and Lebanon.” Maribel Mendoza ’26, incharge of crowd control and member of TSCJP, highlighted the unity among different student groups. “This protest was a show of support from the students, SJP, TrinDivests, and TEACJ. We didn’t make this public on social media but reached out individually or through organizations. It’s important to show we have a lot of support on campus,” Mendoza said. She also noted the avoidant behavior of some trustees, pointing out their reluctance to engage with the students’ peaceful actions.

 Representatives from the encampment and members of TSCJP, including Theodora Tatsi ’26, Jake Loor ’25, Allie Mikalatos ’25, Anna Grant-Bolton ’25, Tahseen Aliahmad ’26 and Olivia Silvey ’25, were scheduled to present to the investment subcommittee of the Board of Trustees. They provided a 20-minute overview that drew parallels from the current movement to divest from Israel to the historical movement of the 1980s, which sought divestment from South African apartheid at Trinity College. Tatsi, a presenter at the board meeting, in an interview with the Tripod detailed the proceedings which were a continuation of negotiations that began during the encampments before the summer break. The presenters detailed their current demands for routine disclosures, outlining specific requirements: “Our demands to the board were clear: disclosure and divestment. More specifically for disclosure, we demand that the board discloses if Trinity is invested in the 18 companies presented by October 24th, 2024. We then request that Trinity routinely and publicly publish a list of the companies it holds investments in every fiscal quarter.” They also urged the trustees to divest from from genocide, apartheid, war, fossil fuels, weapon manufacturing and mass incarceration. Regarding the divestment, they demanded that the investment subcommittee issue a formal recommendation to the full board of trustees to divest, initiate a vote on their demands and allow them to present their report to the full board of trustees at their next meeting. Despite the extensive presentation, Tatsi noted a disheartening lack of engagement from the trustees. “Although we didn’t expect an immediate ‘yes,’ we were at least hoping for some performative empathy. Unfortunately, it felt like presenting without an audience,” Tatsi explained. 

On Oct. 18, the activism continued with a rally beginning at 6:15 p.m. at Gates Quad and moving to just outside Hamlin Hall, where the Board of Trustees’ annual dinner was scheduled. The protestors assembled outside Hamlin Hall, positioning themselves where the trustees could see them. According to Antonia Kambolis ‘26, students were told to refrain from chanting with megaphones during the dinner. Despite these restrictions, the protestors, including students and faculty, assembled outside Hamlin Hall focused on chanting whenever the Board of Trustees entered and exited. They also lined up on both sides of the windows of the hall. Periodically throughout the dinner, Vice President of Student Success Joseph J. DiChristina came outside to insist the students silence their chants as they were disrupting the speeches and events inside. Kambolis remarked, “The protest is about disruption. Because we got a reaction, because DiChristina engaged with us, this protest was successful. Reaction is needed.” During the protest, both Kambolis and Tatsi also noted heckling, as well as a Trinity Campus Safety Officer recording the event, even after faculty members stepped up to protect the identities of the students.

Some of the chants aimed at the Board of Trustees included “Free Palestine,” “Disclose, Divest,” and “What do we tell the Trustees? If there is no justice there is no peace!” While it is difficult to quantify the size of Friday’s protest, it is estimated that 40 to 50 participants were involved in this procession. According to Kambolis, the event took place through word of mouth. She emphasized the role of many student leaders on campus who played a part in publicizing the planned actions.

In response to these events, Kambolis and Tatsi, in conversation with the Tripod, reaffirmed their commitment to advocacy, recognizing the power of their collective voice in seeking transformative changes at Trinity College. When asked if the protests on Thursday and Friday effectively brought visibility and positive feedback to their cause, Kambolis and Tatsi said the negative reaction from faculty to the students’ actions indicates they were doing something right. They also noted that the Divestment Days of Action reignited and reminded the protesters of their ongoing goals regarding divestment.

When asked how last week’s protests influenced her views on student engagement and activism, Kambolis concluded, “There has never been more of a need for it.” Tatsi reflected that her “voice as a student matters,” and that through her community and action she has power. She added that her community fostered her sense of obligation to act. “While the lack of response at the meeting was disheartening, it has only strengthened our resolve,” said Tatsi. “We plan to keep the momentum going, ensuring our voices are not just heard but acted upon.”