The University of Galway’s annual Alumni Ball this weekend should be boycotted by staff, students and graduates because of the institution’s relationship with an Israeli college linked to defence contractors complicit in genocide.
The University of Galway’s Students’ Union has called on the college community and alumni to boycott the annual Alumni Awards Ball taking place this Saturday, May 23.
The protest is part of a continuing campaign to convince the university to break its ties with Technion, a top-tier institute of technology in Haifa which is alleged to play a key role in developing “defence and security technologies” used in the destruction of Gaza.
The relationship with Technion is through the ASTERISK project, a €4m EU-funded green hydrogen project led by Galway. It includes 11 other educational institutions.
The University of Galway has repeatedly said it is bound by contractual obligations under the Horizon Europe programme, and cannot withdraw until the project is complete.
Its Alumni Awards is an annual fundraising event for the university highlighting the achievements of its graduates. Tickets for the gala event are priced at €150 each.
Recently, some high-profile figures have refused honorary doctorates from the university, and awards have been returned in protest. The Nelson Mandela Foundation is also reviewing the use of Nelson Mandela’s name by the University of Galway.
“Our members voted overwhelmingly in our recent referendum voicing their outrage that the University continues to work with Technion. We are using our platform to draw attention to the lack of action by University management to address this issue,” said SU president Maisie Hall. “ We have turned down our invitations to the Alumni Awards and encourage everyone else to do the same,” she said.
The University of Galway was contacted for a response before publication.
