This page displays the full text of the petition
6 March 2022.
We, the undersigned community of scholars, students and staff at LSE appeal to the School Management Committee (SMC) to consider the introduction of a series of urgent measures to respond to the horrific violence that we are witnessing in Ukraine as a result of an invasion by Russian armed forces.
We are proud of the illustrious history of LSE in rising to the occasion in the face of war and refugee crises. In the previous century, LSE hosted such intellectual giants as the statistician Claus Moser, the philosopher and public intellectual Karl Popper, and in Sociology, Karl Mannheim, to name a few figures. The LSE is what it is because of the contribution of these wartime refugees and exiles to the intellectual life of the School. But this was only possible because of vision and leadership at LSE’s highest levels of management. The situation may not be the same today; but the need for support to those threatened remains just as real.
Following the Nazi seizure of power in 1933, a group of audacious individuals with a vision set up the Academic Assistance Council (AAC). See the blog post by Mick Cox here:
Among the individuals who made a mark on the work of AAC were Tess Simpson, the physicist from Hungary Leo Szilard and the Nobel Laureate A V Hill. But it was the leadership of the then LSE Director William Beveridge that transformed an ad hoc academic initiative into an institution that will be highly effective in helping academics from Europe fleeing Nazi crimes.
Ukraine has been subjected to a brutal attack since 24 February; we are seeing the bombardment of civilian infrastructure and there are confirmed civilian deaths, including children. Universities across the globe have made strong statements condemning the aggression and the deaths of innocent civilians. But the most important and urgent thing is to act.
Following the example Dartmouth University in the USA and other leading academic institutions, we call upon the School to join the International Taskforce for Displaced Scholars uniting colleagues from Harvard, Columbia, Notre Dame, University of Chicago, UC-Berkeley, the University of Cambridge (UK) and others.
We recommend that LSE SMC follow the example of Dartmouth and other institutions in the Taskforce and urgently consider the introduction of the following measures:
Current students from Ukraine or with family in Ukraine; affected students from Russia
• Introduce financial measures to aid to students already at LSE
• Help with extension / payment for accommodation
• Academic help with extensions of coursework
• Payment for emergency flights, as required
• Provide support as required to students affected by this conflict from not just Ukraine, but also Russia—many citizens from these countries have relatives across different states of the former USSR and may be affected in various ways
Aid to displaced students and scholars
• Create a fund for emergency admission and considering offering full financial aid to undergraduate and graduate students who are either still in Ukraine or are now refugees, in Poland and other neighboring states
• Create a fund and liaise with RCUK to generate an urgent pot of funding for PhD students and VR appointments for more established scholars
• Work with existing faculty with expertise in the region who have already offered support to the School to help coordinate the hosting of scholars within the Scholars at Risk Program – e.g., Tomila Lankina (IRD), Vladislav Zubok (IH).
• Liaise with the CIVICA network to create a hub for providing pop-up / bespoke online learning or access to extant online resources for Ukrainian student refugees in Poland and other neighbouring states; partnering with other European institutions to offer degrees for affected refugees whose studies have been disrupted and whose universities in Ukraine have suffered from shelling.
We the undersigned are devastated at the unprovoked war in Ukraine and the horrific toll of mounting casualties. We are proud of being associated with LSE, an institution that has risen to the occasion during the wars of the twentieth century and has hosted refugees fleeing violence in Europe. We urge you to do what is morally right in this instance.
Signed (last updated 4 March 2022, 21.00):
Tomila Lankina. Professor, IRD, LSE
Lanabi la Lova. PhD candidate, IR, LSE
Olivia Nantermoz Benoit-Gonin. Phd Candidate, International Relations , LSE
Claire Gordon. Director , Eden Centre for Education Enhancement, LSE
Guo Xiong Han. PhD Candidate and Graduate Teaching Assistant, International Relations, LSE
James Morrison. Assistant Professor, International Relations, LSE
John Sidel. Sir Patrick Gillam Professor of International and Comparative Politics, Government/International Relations, LSE
Christine Stedtnitz. LSE Fellow, Government, LSE
Christopher Brown. Emeritus Professor, International Relations, LSE
Cicely Ashwin. Professor, Department of Management, LSE
Paul Kelly. Professor of Political Theory, Government, LSE
Angus Wrenn. Tutorial Fellow, Language Centre, LSE
Vesna Popovski. Research Fellow and Visiting Lecturer, European Institute and Government Department, LSE
Steffen Hertog. Associate Professor, Government, LSE
Jonathan Hopkin. Professor , European Institute, LSE
Robert Falkner. Associate Professor, International Relations, LSE
Eleanor Knott. Assistant Professor, Methodology, LSE
Ruxandra Serban. LSE Fellow in Qualitative Methodology, Department of Methodology, LSE
Julian Robinson. Director of Estates, Estates, LSE
Lee Edwards. Professor, Media and Communications, LSE
Anna Mahtani. Associate Professor, Philosophy, Logic and Scientific Method, LSE
Nicholas Barr. Professor of Public Economics, European Institute, LSE
Bruno Leipold. Fellow, Government, LSE
Kenneth Lee. Associate Professorial Lecturer, Accounting, LSE
Anton Harder. Teaching Fellow East Asian History, International History, LSE
Kerry Vandersteen. Learning Technologist, Eden Centre, LSE
Chana Teeger. Assistant Professor, Methodology, LSE
Gian Battaglia. Learning Technology Systems Support Specialist, Eden Centre, LSE
David Webb. Professor, Finance (Academic), LSE
Artemis Photiadou. , International History, LSE
Federica Bicchi. Associate Professor, Dept of International Relations, LSE
Edoardo Vaccari. Ph.D. candidate, International History, LSE
Florian Foos. Assistant Professor in Political Behaviour, Government, LSE
Alison Standring. Deputy Director, Language Centre, LSE
Alex Spiers. Senior Learning Technologist, Eden, LSE
Peter Skrandies. Language Coordinator, Language Centre, LSE
Ronald Küppers Johansson. PhD, Methodology, LSE
Simon Roberts. Teacher, Language Centre, LSE
Taylor Sherman. Deputy Head of Department, International History, LSE
Francesco Panizza. Professor, Government, LSE
Paul Apostolidis. Associate Professorial Lecturer and DHOD Education, Government, LSE
Nyssa Lee-Woolf. Head, Education Enhancement Projects, Eden Centre for Education Enhancement, LSE
Paul Keenan. Assistant Professor, International History, LSE
Mathias Poertner. Assistant Professor, Department of Government, LSE
David Woodruff. Associate Professor, Government, LSE
Daniel Berliner. Associate Professor, Department of Government, LSE
Leticia Ines Alexandre Sabsay. Associate Professor, Department of Gender Studies, LSE
Catherine Boone. Professor, Government, LSE
Christopher Doughty. Programme Administrator, Eden Centre, LSE
Huseyin Naci. Associate Professor, Health Policy, LSE
Hazel Johnstone. department manager, Gender Studies, LSE
Clare Hemmings. Prof of Feminist Theory/PhD convener, Gender Studies, LSE
Thahmina Begum Thaniya. Graduate Intern Inclusive Education, Eden Centre for Education Enhancement, LSE
Flora Cornish. Associate Professor, Methodology, LSE
Conor Gearty. Professor, Law, LSE
Giovanni Graglia. Guest Teacher, International History, LSE
Darron Gordon. Associate Professorial Lecturer, International Development, LSE
Brandon Green. PhD Candidate, Department of Methodology, LSE
Gabriela Chase. Programme Administrator, Gender, LSE
Mercedes Wearing. Associate Professor, Department of Gender Studies, LSE
Ellis Saxey. Senior Academic Developer, Eden Centre for Education Enhancement, LSE
Elizabeth Ryan. Institute Manager, International Inequalities Institute, LSE
Signe Dahl. Sociology, LSE
Milena Tsvetkova. Assistant Professor, Methodology, LSE
Paolo Brunori. Assistant Professorial Research Fellow, International Inequalities Institute, LSE
Ishrat Jahan. Student, Sociology, LSE
Philip Rauber. Learning Developer, LSE LIFE, LSE
Eoin Meade. Learning Technologist, Eden Centre, LSE
Arjan Gjonca. Associate Professor, International Development, LSE
Angelos Dassios. Professor, Statistics, LSE
Luca Tardelli. Assistant Professorial Lecturer, International Relations, LSE
Philip Chan. Guest teacher, Statistics, LSE
Davinder Ratra. Head of Administration, Estates, LSE
Lucia Pedrioli. Teaching and Assessment Administrator, Department of Methodology, LSE
Catrin Preston. MSc student, Sociology, LSE
Patrick Mcgovern. Associate Professor, Sociology, LSE
Marina Franchi. Senior Academic Developer, Eden, LSE
Rachel Donagh. MSc Student , Department of Sociology , LSE
Auguste Dudutyte. Administrative support, International Inequalities Institute, LSE
Molly Avery. GT and PhD Candidate, International History, LSE
Anna Plomien. Associate Professor, Gender Studies, LSE
Baljeet Nandra. Facilities Manager, Estates Division, LSE
David Tyndall. Post Room, Estates Division, LSE
Chloe Higgs. Venue Coordinator , Estates, LSE
Andrea Mennicken. Associate Professor, Accounting, LSE
Duncan Mcpherson. Assistant Project Manager, Estates Division, LSE
Phoebe Dunster. Capital Development Team Administrator/PA to Director of Capital Development, Estates Division, LSE
Konstantinos Kardaras. Professor, Statistics, LSE
Jane Tomlinson. PA to Julian Robinson, Estates, LSE
Daniel Reeves. Residences Sustainability Officer, Estates Sustainability, LSE
Andrew Murray. Professor of Law, Law School, LSE
Mark Anderson. Reprographics Operator, Estates, LSE
Victoria Hünewaldt. Student, Sociology, LSE
Liam O'Shea. Dinam Fellow, International Relations, LSE
Finia Kuhlmann. PhD Candidate, Accouting, LSE
Francesco Biancelli. Principal Project Manager, Estates Division, LSE
Emily Harrison. Civic Engagement Officer, Eden Centre, LSE
Elizabeth Ingleson. Assistant Professor, International History, LSE
Camilya Maleh. Research and Department Operations Administrator, Methodology, LSE
Katherine Summers. British Academy Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Department of Methodology, LSE
Elliott Green. Associate Professor, International Development, LSE
David Lewis. Professor of Anthropology and Development, International Development, LSE
Emeline Sztrakos. Carbon Reduction Manager, Estates, LSE
Ernestina Coast. Professor, International Development, LSE
Elena Vitan. Reprographics Office Manager, Estates Division, LSE
Suki Ali. Associate Professor, Department of Sociology, LSE
Alexandre Dab. Guest Teacher, International history, LSE
Tiziana Leone. Associate Professor, International Development, LSE
Madhuri Agarwal. Teaching fellow, International Development, LSE
Thomas Wilkinson. PhD student and GTA, International History, LSE
Giovanni Angioni. PhD Candidate, International Relations, LSE
Douglas Hutchinson. Associate , LSE IDEAS, LSE
Duncan Green. Professor in Practice, International Development, LSE
Thomas Kirk. Researcher and Lecturer, International Development, LSE
Benjamin Brundu. PhD Candidate, Sociology, LSE
Dobromil Wereszczynski. BSc Student, Department of Government, LSE
Paul Kirby. Associate Professorial Research Fellow, Centre for Women, Peace and Security, LSE
Jillian Terry. Assistant Professorial Lecturer, LSE100, LSE
Athanasia Baltouna. Space Planning and Analysis Manager, Estates Division, LSE
Antony Best. Professor, International History, LSE
Tamara Williams. Building Manager, Estates Division, LSE
Kathryn Hochstetler. Professor, International Development, LSE
Aiko Holvikivi. Assistant Professor, Gender Studies, LSE
Tetiana Shymanchuk. Student, Gender, LSE
Sara Geneletti Inchauste. Associate Professor, Statistics, LSE
Joanne Kalogeras. Associate Study Advisor, LSE LIFE, LSE
Christine Hanrieder. Assistant Professor, International Development, LSE
Darren Moon. Senior Learning Technologist, Eden Centre for Education Enhancement, LSE
Per Ahblom. Assistant Professor, Accounting, LSE
Jennifer Jackson Preece. Associate Professor, European Institute & Department of International Relations, LSE
Philipa Mladovsky. Assistant Professor, International Development, LSE
Jean-Paul Faguet. Professor, International Development, LSE
Jan Mlynarczyk. Student, LSE Law School, LSE
Mark Hoffman. Dean of the General Course and Global Mobility, International Relations, LSE
Robyn Mcalpine. Education Officer, Students' Union, LSE
Josephine Stephens. General Secretary , LSE Students' Union, LSE
Iulia-Clara Cirdan. PhD student, Sociology , LSE
Sara Camacho Felix. Assistant Professorial Lecturer (Programme Lead for the Atlantic Fellows for Social and Economic Equity), International Inequalities Institute, LSE
Afroditi Koulaxi. PhD Student, Media and Communications, LSE
Agoussi Amon. Senior Administrator, LSE LIFE Centre, LSE
Iulia-Clara Cirdan. PhD student, LSE
Sara Camacho Felix. Assistant Professorial Lecturer (Programme Lead for the Atlantic Fellows for Social and Economic Equity), LSE
Afroditi Koulaxi. PhD Student, LSE
Agoussi Amon. Senior Administrator, LSE
Chris Hughes. Emeritus Professor if International Relations, LSE
Agoussi Amon, Senior Administrator, LSE
David Coles. Volunteer Centre Manager, LSE Volunteer Centre, LSE
Sarah Taylor. Learning Developer, LSE LIFE, LSE
Magda Muter. PhD Candidate , Department of Gender Studies, LSE
Georgia Nichols. Study Adviser, LSE LIFE, LSE
Johannes Ruf. Professor, Mathematics, LSE
Konrad Swanepoel. Professor , Mathematics, LSE
Robert Simon. Associate Professor, Mathematics , LSE
Wai-Fung Lam. Professor, Statistics, LSE
Mihail Zervos. Professor, Mathematics, LSE
Albina Danilova. Associate Professor, Department of Mathematics , LSE
Grammateia Kotsialou. LSE Fellow, Mathematics, LSE
Joanne Taplin-Green. Reader Services Manager, Library, LSE
Galit Ashkenazi-Golan. Assistant professor , Mathematics, LSE
Karl Sedelmeier. Associate Professor, International Relations, LSE
Akile Ahmet. Head of Inclusive Education, Eden Centre, LSE
David Burgherr. Research Assistant, International Inequalities Institute, LSE
Julia Boettcher. Professor, Mathematics, LSE
Thiemo Fetzer. Visiting Fellow, Professor, STICERD, LSE
Lydia Halls. Student Partnership Coordinator, Eden Centre, LSE
Giacomo Zambelli. Associate professor, Mathematics, LSE
Wendy Sigle. Head of Department, Gender Studies, LSE
Johannes Van Den Heuvel. Professor of Mathematics; Head of Department, Department of Mathematics, LSE
Oonagh Wallace. Student, Gender, LSE
Alejandra Quezada Tirado. Student, Gender Department, LSE
Paula Dietert Detmer. MSc Student, Gender Department, LSE
Madeline Lloyd. Student, Gender Department, LSE
Patrycja Piotrowska. Student, Gender , LSE
Diana Stoyanova. Master's Student, Gender , LSE
David Stevenson. Professor, International History, LSE
Danylo Nikiforov. President of Ukrainian Society, International Relations , LSE
Aleksandra Slyusar. Student, Management, LSE
Mariia Paraniuk. Student, Finance, LSE
Ayse Uslu. MSc. Student, Sociology, LSE
Alina Asad. Postgrad Student , Gender Studies, LSE
Hui Xuan Soh. Student, LSESU RAG President, International Relations, LSE
Sanne Roeven. MSc Human Rights academic rep, Sociology, LSE
Florence Waller-Carr. PhD Student, Gender Department, LSE
William Redman. Student, Sociology, LSE
Ajnura Akbas. PhD student, Gender, LSE
Somos Emma. student, Sociology, LSE
Leticia Szajdenfisz Jarlicht. Undergraduate student, International Relations , LSE
Kathleen Scanlon Bradley. Distinguished Policy Fellow, LSE London, LSE
Adam Paltik. Academic Event Officer, LSE SU Ukrainian Society, LSE
Treuer Julia. Student, Management, LSE
Marcin Mochnacki. Mathematics and Economics student, Department of Mathematics, LSE
Hanna Biernat. Student, Geography and Environment, LSE
Katherine Burtenshaw. Student MSc, Gender studies, LSE
Jingyi Ma. MSc student, Sociology, LSE
Elvira Correa Lazaro. Student, Gender Department, LSE
Yuliya Stalpouskaya. Masters student, Psychological and Behavioural Science, LSE
Orte Barzdonyte, MSc Student, Department of Social Policy, LSE
Pearl Sullivan, Gender, LSE
Qi Cui, PhD, Methodology , LSE
Nancy Breton, Methodology, LSE
George Bowron. Undergraduate, Social Policy, LSE
Lois Wiliam. Student, Anthropology, LSE
Geun Tak Yoo. Undergraduate, Dept. of Anthropology, LSE
Viktoriya Kuz. MSc Student, Department of Geography and Environment, LSE
Erik Baurdoux, Associate Professor, Statistics, LSE
Peter Trubowitz, Professor, International Relations, LSE
John Breuilly, Emeritus Professor, Government, LSE
Additionally, 11 respondents from the LSE signed the petition but did not give a permission to disclose their names.