Minutes from Fossil Free WSU Meeting on August 28, 2023
Present: Stevie Smith, Ryan Culp, Abby Owens, Isabelle Creelman, Mason Burns, Gil Rezin, Kassandra Vogel, Bill Engels
1. New Collaboration Opportunities, Updates
a) Kassandra Vogel, Deputy Director of ASWSU’s Campus Sustainability, shared her ideas for supporting FFWSU, including being on the Sustainability Task Force; keeping our agenda before the eyes of the WSU administration; helping keep the administration accountable for their decisions, including any related to fossil fuel divestment; helping Stevie arrange presentations to ASWSU committees through her direct contact with the ASWSU president and vice-president; contacting the Daily Evergreen about reporting events by and writing articles on FFWSU.
Kassandra and Stevie will begin arranging presentations with ASWSU committees. Ryan, Abby, and Mason will co-present with Stevie, as their schedule allows. Kassandra will bring to the next meeting a list of venues at WSU for publicizing our events.
The group discussed ways to increase student attendance at events. Mason advised making sure our events are listed on “presence,” so that RAs are encouraged to bring students. Abby suggested advertising at the sorority and fraternities on campus.
b) James Browning with F Minus, which identifies lobbyists who work for both the environment and fossil fuel industry, met with Stevie and Bill on Zoom last week to discuss possible collaboration. He informed us that one lobbyist employed by WSU, Dan Coyne, lobbies for fossil fuels (four companies, including Phillips 66). Mentioning this in our public comments at Regents’ meetings might step up the pressure on WSU for divesting. The group decided to invite him to speak virtually at our next meeting.
c) Kristin Edmark with Divest WA reached out to Stevie and Bill last April, saying our two groups could be a lot of help to each other. They work to remove fossil fuel investments from the state’s Investment Board. They might be very helpful as we work with Mike Connell, CEO of the WSU Foundation, on the Task Force to formulate our recommendation for presenting to the Regents. Bill told Stevie he would try to arrange a virtual meeting with Kristin.
An update that Bill shared was the Regents’ approval of a request for supplemental funding from the state for purchasing carbon offset credits for ensuring compliance with the state’s Climate Commitment Act. He will try to learn whether this represents a move toward reducing WSU’s carbon footprint.
2. Student Petition
Stevie reported that the petition will be sent to all WSU students on September 1st. About 100 flyers from our materials in storage will be available for distribution and a sign with the QR code will be displayed at the Club Fair on September 6th.
The group arranged to inquire about having flyers placed in students mailboxes at the residence halls.
Mason agreed to have e-signs with the petition posted in the CUB, Rec Center, and Spark.
3. Fall Events
The group brainstormed events for this fall. Ideas included rallying and marching, possibly with a Halloween theme, chalking up Terrell Mall, and a walk or bikeathon. The march and rally was tentatively scheduled for mid October. Kassandra will find out when students are most in classes during the week, so we can choose a day when students are more likely to be available. (Holding the event to coincide with intervals on busy class days might work best.)
4. Commenting at Regents meeting on Friday, September 15th.
Bill, Abby, and Gil said they would comment. The meeting is in-person on the Pullman campus.
Next Meeting: Monday, September 11th, at 6 pm in CUB 204.
Fossil Free WSU 