Students call on UCL to ditch links to arms trade

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University College London students have protested against the university’s involvement in the arms trade as part of the National Day of Action for University Ethical Investment on 27 February.

Campaigners dressed up as arms dealers and tried to sell toy guns and missiles while talking to students about UCL’s ongoing investment in armament firms, as well as research links to the industry.

Protesters outside the university held placards reading: "Come buy some weapons. Find what your university is inversting in. Clear ur uni, clear ur conscience [sic].” Students were also encouraged to sign the petition to 'Disarm UCL'.

In 2006 the Campaign Against Arms Trade (CAAT) revealed that UCL was the largest known university investor in arms companies in the UK. According to the Disarm UCL petition, "UCL currently holds £884,000 worth of shares in arms company Cobham plc, which profits significantly from the sale of military components."

A report by the CAAT claims that military organisations annually sponsor hundreds of projects at UK universities. Between 2001 and 2006 more than 1,900 military projects were conducted in 26 UK universities in engineering, science and technology departments.

The campaigners condemned UCL’s disregard for ethical responsibility and demanded that it moves towards an ethical investment policy. Students said they did not want their fees to fund the global arms trade.

Sara Hall, UCL student and CAAT campaigner said that "universities are keen to see students as consumers, but students are amongst Britain's most ethical consumers.”

Some universities, including SOAS and Bangor, have already abandoned their arms trade investments. The National Day of Action aims to encourage others to do the same.

Protests and debates took place elsewhere around the country, including the Universities of Lancaster, Oxford, Manchester, Nottingham, Newcastle and Warwick.

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