Divest UO FAQ!
Q: What is the goal of Divest UO?
A: We want the UO Foundation to sell all of its investments in fossil fuel extraction companies.
Q: Why is divesting important?
A: By divesting, we not only slowly chip away at these huge corporations, but we send a powerful political message. Divestment was a powerful tactic used to end apartheid in South Africa and today is being used across the world by universities, cities, states, and even entire countries to decrease the use of fossil fuels and thus prevent further implications of climate change. In order to stay below the catastrophic two degree Celsius increase (which we recently hit for the first time in recorded history), we need to be doing everything we can to limit fossil fuel emissions!
Q: What do students and staff think about divestment?
A: 73% of students voted in favor of a resolution on the ASUO ballot in 2014, and the University Senate, which is comprised primarily of faculty from each department, voted UNANIMOUSLY to divest within 6 months in January 2015.
Q: What do you mean by the UO Foundation? How is that different than the University?
A: The UO Foundation is a separate not-for-profit corporation, which is not connected to the rest of the University. It is designed to specifically deal with investing alumni donations.
Q: What is the UO foundation’s stance on divestment?
A: We met with their chief investment officer and he said that their only obligation is to “maximize returns for donors” and that therefore they “cannot change investments for any social cause.” Once we made it clear we were not going to change out position, he refused to meet with us again.
Q: How much money do they currently have invested?
A: Unfortunately that information isn't publicly available, but what they've told us is about 0.5% of their total endowment, which equates to around $4 million.
Q: That's not a very high percentage. Why is it so hard for them to just divest?
A: Because for the same reason that we want it to happen, they are worried about it sending a strong political message. They don't want to offend any of the wealthy donors!
Q: Okay, but the University needs to make money. Isn't divesting risky financially?
A: Actually, staying invested in fossil fuels is more risky. Fossil fuel investments are going down, and continued fossil fuel use could actually destroy the entire economy. Even the Rockefeller family is divesting!
Q: What about President Schill? What does he think about all this?
A: Despite agreeing that “climate change is the biggest issue of our time”, President Schill refuses to take a stance on this issue, claiming that the University should only focus on “matters related to teaching, research, and the operation of the university” and must not take any social or political stances in order to preserve academic freedom.
Q: How can I help?
A: You can help by signing the petition if you haven’t already and coming to our rallies & other protests! Like us on facebook to stay up-to-date with upcoming events. We also need donations for our alternative trust fund - the University will only get this money once they divest! Use this link & select University of Oregon to donate to our school. We need to show the Foundation and the University that we are serious about this and we demand that they invest in our future!!
A: We want the UO Foundation to sell all of its investments in fossil fuel extraction companies.
Q: Why is divesting important?
A: By divesting, we not only slowly chip away at these huge corporations, but we send a powerful political message. Divestment was a powerful tactic used to end apartheid in South Africa and today is being used across the world by universities, cities, states, and even entire countries to decrease the use of fossil fuels and thus prevent further implications of climate change. In order to stay below the catastrophic two degree Celsius increase (which we recently hit for the first time in recorded history), we need to be doing everything we can to limit fossil fuel emissions!
Q: What do students and staff think about divestment?
A: 73% of students voted in favor of a resolution on the ASUO ballot in 2014, and the University Senate, which is comprised primarily of faculty from each department, voted UNANIMOUSLY to divest within 6 months in January 2015.
Q: What do you mean by the UO Foundation? How is that different than the University?
A: The UO Foundation is a separate not-for-profit corporation, which is not connected to the rest of the University. It is designed to specifically deal with investing alumni donations.
Q: What is the UO foundation’s stance on divestment?
A: We met with their chief investment officer and he said that their only obligation is to “maximize returns for donors” and that therefore they “cannot change investments for any social cause.” Once we made it clear we were not going to change out position, he refused to meet with us again.
Q: How much money do they currently have invested?
A: Unfortunately that information isn't publicly available, but what they've told us is about 0.5% of their total endowment, which equates to around $4 million.
Q: That's not a very high percentage. Why is it so hard for them to just divest?
A: Because for the same reason that we want it to happen, they are worried about it sending a strong political message. They don't want to offend any of the wealthy donors!
Q: Okay, but the University needs to make money. Isn't divesting risky financially?
A: Actually, staying invested in fossil fuels is more risky. Fossil fuel investments are going down, and continued fossil fuel use could actually destroy the entire economy. Even the Rockefeller family is divesting!
Q: What about President Schill? What does he think about all this?
A: Despite agreeing that “climate change is the biggest issue of our time”, President Schill refuses to take a stance on this issue, claiming that the University should only focus on “matters related to teaching, research, and the operation of the university” and must not take any social or political stances in order to preserve academic freedom.
Q: How can I help?
A: You can help by signing the petition if you haven’t already and coming to our rallies & other protests! Like us on facebook to stay up-to-date with upcoming events. We also need donations for our alternative trust fund - the University will only get this money once they divest! Use this link & select University of Oregon to donate to our school. We need to show the Foundation and the University that we are serious about this and we demand that they invest in our future!!
Follow Divest UO on Facebook and Twitter for more updates!