ESA Subcommittee on WSU Fossil Fuel Divestment
Meeting Minutes, January 18, 2022
Present: Stephen Fawcett, Mason Burns, Ryan Culp, Simon Smith, Bill Engels
- Review of the minutes from November 30, 2021
Stevie said he would check to see if the prize for the student survey participant was given.
Bill shared that he wrote to Dr. Henning asking how we could research who runs the WSU endowment and how it’s invested and composed. Dr. Henning suggested contacting the Chief Finance Officer, a faculty member on the Board of Regents, and U of Washington’s divestment group (Divest UW) since UW is a public university like WSU.
Bill reported finding that the UW divestment campaign’s strategies included:
- commenting during the Board of Regents meetings
- meeting individually with members of the Board
- submitting a petition, with representation from over 20 student organizations, to the university president
- giving the Student Presentation on Divestment (The text is available online. Four students presented to the Finance and Investment Committee of the Board of Regents in October of 2016.)
The UW’s Board of Regents voted in 2015 to begin divesting from coal companies.
Bill shared Mason’s update on his inquiry into using the WSU Public Record report, sent to Bill in 2021, to learn where and how WSU is investing. Mason was informed that the information couldn’t be accessed using the report. He was advised to contact the WSU finance or treasury department and arrange a meeting with the person managing the portfolio.
Bill indicated he talked to his contact on the WSU Foundation and learned he is no longer a member and had little information. This person did advise contacting Mike O’Connell, CEO of the Investment Committee, directly.
Simon indicated he will talk to the person he knows at the Foundation. He will also contact the WSU Attorney General for information on the endowment.
Bill said he would contact the WSU CFO, Stacey Pearson.
- Discussion on items # 3 and 4 from Dr. Henning’s suggestions.
Bill shared that he had contacted Aryt Alasti at Harvard U and had joined DivestEd (actually their affiliated group Better Future Project). At Mr. Alasti’s suggestion, he also joined the Faculty/Staff Divestment Network.
Bill said he had created a google drive and email address and would begin uploading documents on the drive. It was decided we would continue using WSU mail for our communications on meetings, updates, etc.
Bill shared that he had created a website: https://wsufossilfueldivestment.wordpress.com. The site will be a reference point for information on the history of the campaign. The group began discussing alternative titles for the website/campaign and will continue this discussion at the next meeting.
- Discussion on the Next Steps
Stevie offered to present on fossil fuel divestment and the campaign at the next meeting of the ASWSU. Bill will share information for presenting.
Stevie also offered to meet individually with a member of the Board of Regents.
Bill pointed out that the next Regents meeting would be on January 21st and he and Ryan offered to provide a public comment.
Next meeting day and time: Tuesday, February 1, 5:30-6 pm.
Fossil Free WSU 