Professor resigns from senior role over UCD response to invasion of Ukraine

Professor Ben Tonra railed against UCD's response to the Ukrainian crisis and urged anyone with similar misgivings to contact the college's president. File picture: Domnick Walsh

A senior academic has resigned from a prominent role at University College Dublin over the college's response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Professor Ben Tonra, professor of international relations at the UCD School of Politics and International Relations, railed against UCD's response to the Ukrainian crisis and urged anyone with similar misgivings to contact the college's president.

He tweeted: "With immediate effect I am resigning my role as the UCD College of Social Sciences and Law’s @ucdsocscilaw Vice Principal for Internationalization and Global Engagement at UCD Dublin.

"Based on the statements and response of the University’s leadership to the invasion of Ukraine and the role of the Confucius Institute on campus, it is clear to me that I do not share the values underpinning UCD’s global engagement strategy.

"I will continue my teaching and research as Full Professor of International Relations at the UCD School of Politics and International Relations @ucdpolitics and the UCD College of Social Sciences and Law where I am privileged and proud to serve."

UCD had issued a message on Monday in which it said: "University College Dublin joins the Irish Government and wider society in its concern with the situation in Ukraine, and in particular with the violation of international law and the unnecessary and tragic human suffering and loss of life."

Prof Tonra had responded directly to that statement via Twitter, stating: "‘The situation in Ukraine’ "I am deeply, profoundly ashamed. From ‘Ireland’s Global University'."

He also said any alumni, donors, students and staff at UCD who found the college's statement "unacceptable" should contact the president of the university, later saying "Only that kind of intervention — *especially* from alums — will shift their dial."

Speaking to the Irish Examiner, Prof Tonra said of university management: "They were anxious that the statement would be very, very measured and not leave hostages to fortune regarding any future situation."

He said this pointed to what he called a "systemic problem" that affected all Irish universities in that their "entire internationalisation strategy is built on income generation".

"Everything is focused on income generation to keep the lights on and salaries paid," he said, adding he had sympathy for university management when it came to trying to source adequate funding which was not forthcoming from the State.

But he said his worry was that "universities are willing to leave their values... by the side of the road".

In the desperate search for cash they are forgetting who they are."

Prof Tonra said he had heard "not a word" from the president's office and he had received an acknowledgment from the office responsible for global engagement, thanking him for his service.

Prof Tonra is also a member of the Royal Irish Academy and he lent his support to the RIA's own statement, issued on Tuesday, in which it said its members said they were "shocked and deeply concerned at the military invasion by Russia of Ukraine".

"The Academy notes with grave concern the damage this represents to educational and scientific institutions, academics, and international research collaboration, and to the social, economic and cultural foundations of Ukraine," it said. "The Academy expresses support and solidarity with the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine.

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"The Academy also wishes to salute the courageous position taken by many members of the Russian Academy of Sciences, who associated their signature with that of several hundred researchers and scientific journalists from their country in an open letter denouncing the aggression against Ukraine by the Russian Federation and calling for its immediate end."

Among those expressing support for Prof Tonra's stance was Fine Gael spokesperson on European affairs Neale Richmond, who tweeted: "A principled & correct stand. As a UCD graduate & a local TD, I will be writing to the President of UCD in support of Prof Tonra & to raise my very serious concerns."

The Irish Examiner has contacted UCD for comment.