Divest UO Spring 2014-Winter 2017Click below to view a zine designed by the 2020-21 Divest campaign!
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About this campaign:
This campaign has been rebooted for the 20-21 school year!
Divest UO is working to have the UO Foundation sell its investments in fossil fuel industries.
We want them to DIVEST now!
**A Message from the Divest UO Campaign Coordinator (1/23/17):
"The UO Foundation’s investment management statement released in September of 2016 is not a new approach for them. It articulates a philosophy put in practice nearly three years ago and signaling a move away from carbon-based investments. Those the foundation still retains - mentioned in an Register Guard editorial as “of the private, non-traded variety that can’t be liquidated overnight” - are awaiting expiration dates, at most extending nearly a decade from now. Selling them before they expire would degrade their value and thus compromise the foundation’s fiduciary duty to the university. Although, these “narrowly largely” defined, direct investments in carbon-based fuel sources are the terms of focus for their divestiture plan, instead of seeking complete divestment from fossil fuels altogether.
By my reasoning, it would not be accurate to say the UO Foundation commits to divest since fossil fuel investments of past years are still part of their portfolio, and their investment management statement does not prohibit from carbon-based investing in the future. Seeing whether the current investments expire remains to be seen. However, speaking as a campaign coordinator and sole member of Climate Justice League directly involved with Divest UO at the moment, I plan to step away and consequently suspend the campaign.
During the campaign’s course, it drew enthusiastic support from members of the university and community, challenged UO’s free speech policies, and made more aware of the relationship between our school and foundation. And while I may have lost faith in the prospect of divestment itself, I am grateful to have worked with people on either end of the debate, most showing an admirable degree of understanding and empathy during my time as a coordinator. Thank you to all the past and present members of the university and community who joined our rallies and demonstrations, signed petitions and voted on ballots, giving advice and support. Thank you to administrators and foundation members for meeting on several occasion. And thank you to all those who continue to inspire and act in the fight against climate change."
Josiah Ng
Campaign Coordinator for Divest UO
Moving forward UO Climate Justice League is looking forward to working with the University's administration to amend and enact its Climate Action Plan to continue our fight for a more sustainable campus driven by innovation and environmental consciousness.
Why divest?
Sign the petition here!
Donate to our alternative fund here! (Click Donate & select University of Oregon - all money will go to the university AFTER they divest)
This campaign has been rebooted for the 20-21 school year!
Divest UO is working to have the UO Foundation sell its investments in fossil fuel industries.
We want them to DIVEST now!
**A Message from the Divest UO Campaign Coordinator (1/23/17):
"The UO Foundation’s investment management statement released in September of 2016 is not a new approach for them. It articulates a philosophy put in practice nearly three years ago and signaling a move away from carbon-based investments. Those the foundation still retains - mentioned in an Register Guard editorial as “of the private, non-traded variety that can’t be liquidated overnight” - are awaiting expiration dates, at most extending nearly a decade from now. Selling them before they expire would degrade their value and thus compromise the foundation’s fiduciary duty to the university. Although, these “narrowly largely” defined, direct investments in carbon-based fuel sources are the terms of focus for their divestiture plan, instead of seeking complete divestment from fossil fuels altogether.
By my reasoning, it would not be accurate to say the UO Foundation commits to divest since fossil fuel investments of past years are still part of their portfolio, and their investment management statement does not prohibit from carbon-based investing in the future. Seeing whether the current investments expire remains to be seen. However, speaking as a campaign coordinator and sole member of Climate Justice League directly involved with Divest UO at the moment, I plan to step away and consequently suspend the campaign.
During the campaign’s course, it drew enthusiastic support from members of the university and community, challenged UO’s free speech policies, and made more aware of the relationship between our school and foundation. And while I may have lost faith in the prospect of divestment itself, I am grateful to have worked with people on either end of the debate, most showing an admirable degree of understanding and empathy during my time as a coordinator. Thank you to all the past and present members of the university and community who joined our rallies and demonstrations, signed petitions and voted on ballots, giving advice and support. Thank you to administrators and foundation members for meeting on several occasion. And thank you to all those who continue to inspire and act in the fight against climate change."
Josiah Ng
Campaign Coordinator for Divest UO
Moving forward UO Climate Justice League is looking forward to working with the University's administration to amend and enact its Climate Action Plan to continue our fight for a more sustainable campus driven by innovation and environmental consciousness.
Why divest?
- Irreversible damage from climate change is imminent and we need institutional change NOW
- The University of Oregon should live up to it's green mission statement & protect the future of its students
- Fossil fuel investments are decreasing in value & continued fossil fuel use will kill our economy
Sign the petition here!
Donate to our alternative fund here! (Click Donate & select University of Oregon - all money will go to the university AFTER they divest)
Accomplishments:
- Interview on Oregon Public Broadcasting with the President of the UO Foundation
- Held a mock wedding (A Toxic Love Story) between the UO Foundation & the fossil fuel industry in April 2016
- Articles from the Register Guard & Oregonian as well as a segment on KLCC
- Held a press conference outside Johnson Hall in March 2016 to stand up for our free speech rights
- Led a 65+ person rally in February 2016 followed by a 35-day sit-in in Johnson Hall (Administration Building)
- Naomi Klein (author of This Changes Everything) even came and spoke at our rally!
- Coverage of our rally by the Daily Emerald, Envision and KEZI (full video of rally here)
- Coverage of our sit-in on KVAL, KLCC, and the Register Guard
- Led two rallies in 2015; one in honor of Global Divestment Day and the other during Earth Week
- Met with current President Michael Schill
- Met with Interim President Scott Coltrane
- Held a conference at the Public Interest Environmental Law Conference (PIELC) in March 2015
- Unanimously passed a resolution in the University Senate to divest within the 6 months in January 2015
- Two meetings with the Chief Investment Officer of the UO Foundation
- Passed an ASUO ballet with 73% of students voting for divestment in April 2014
Op-eds written by our members:
UO Must Dump Its Investments in Fossil Fuels
It's Time to Begin a Sustainable Revolution
Blog Posts from UO Matters:
UO Administration Removes CO2 Divest Banner from Johnson Hall Bush
Students Arrange Marriage of Duck & CO2, Mock Secretive UO Foundation
Learn more about our campaign on our FAQ page!
Photos from our mock wedding:
Photos from our February 2016 rally & sit-in:
Just a small portion of our first rally:
Photos from petitioning & both rallies in 2015:
