Fossil Free WSU
ESA Subcommittee Meeting Minutes, November 1, 2022
Present: Stevie Smith, Abby Owens, Danielle Weinberger, Simon Smith, Ryan Culp, Daniel Howell, Bill Engels Jr., Gus Gabriel, Bill Engels
I. Tabling, Rally, and March Results
The group discussed how, despite the modest number of participants in the march (20-30), the event was highly visible and significantly increased awareness about our campaign. A total of over 100 flyers on the petition was distributed at the tabling on the two days. We also connected with Camille Vaughn, who is with the WSU Foundation and apparently Director of Development at WSU’s Murrow College of Communication. She has helped organize climate and C2C conferences. When asked for suggestions for our campaign, she recommended:
1) finding out how peer universities to WSU, such as other land-grant and pac-12 institutions, who have decided to fully divest are doing financially or what the returns on their investments have been. This information could be useful in our dialogue with the WSU administration about divestment and might even be included in our Climate Resolution. Ryan agreed to begin researching this.
2) contacting other WSU groups advocating for divestment from organizations in other areas besides fossil fuels. Examples are the Black Student Union and Indigenous Students. In discussing this suggestion, we acknowledged that we might get ideas from such organizations and learn from their experience. Also, they might advertise our events. However, we also recognized the need for caution so that we don’t compromise our non-partisan status and our focus.
II. Student Petition Drive
The current number of signees is more than 800. The group decided on the following actions:
1. posting the petition on digital signage in major buildings on campus, including the CUB and Chinook. Stevie will arrange this.
2. displaying paper flyers on bulletin boards on campus, including the CUB, library, Rec Center, and lecture halls. When necessary, ask for permission first. Paper flyers were distributed among those present at the meeting for displaying or sharing with others. Stevie will bring the remaining flyers to the next meeting for possible further distribution. The group decided to wait before posting in dorms again since they were posted there recently. They decided not to hand out flyers outside Martin Stadium during football games chiefly because non-students might sign the petition.
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III. Mason’s Meeting with President Schulz November 10th
The group shared ideas on what to cover during the meeting. Bill will send a draft of the talking points to the group for their review and feedback. Stevie suggested that he and Mason have a mock meeting in preparation for the actual one.
IV. Climate Resolution
The group discussed and set up the following long-term plan of action for bringing the Resolution for full divestment from the “carbon underground 200” to the Board of Regents and/or WSU Foundation Board of Directors for a vote:
1. Present on fossil fuel divestment to the various committees under ASWSU. Ask members to sign the student petition.
2. When reasonably certain that ASWSU will approve the Resolution, present it to them for a vote.
3. Create and circulate a WSU faculty petition and dialogue with members of the Faculty Senate regarding divestment.
4. When reasonably certain that the Faculty Senate will approve the Resolution, present it to them for a vote.
5. Present the Resolution to the WSU Board of Regents and/or WSU Foundation Board of Directors for a vote.
Mason sent Bill his revisions on Gonzaga University’s Resolution. Bill will edit further and share with the group for feedback.
V. Commenting at the November 18th Board of Regents Meeting
Danielle, Abby, and Ryan agreed to give a public comment via Zoom at the next Board of Regents meeting on Friday morning, November 18th in Vancouver. Bill will send details about registering and two suggested scripts. The comment period will be at the end of the meeting and probably be sometime between 10:30 am and 11:30 am.
Next meeting: Tuesday, November 15th, 6 pm in CUB 206
Fossil Free WSU 