Fossil Free WSU asks those considering donating to the WSU Foundation to specify that your donation be invested in fossil-free, environmentally sustainable stocks
Editor’s note: Opinions expressed in this letter to the editor are those of the author alone and do not reflect the editorial position of ClarkCountyToday.com
The WSU Foundation, as the fiduciary for Washington State University, is required under Washington’s Uniform Prudent Management of Institutional Funds Act (UPMIFA) to invest the WSU Consolidated Endowment in alignment with the university’s charitable purposes. These include promoting the wellbeing of the WSU, local, Indigenous, and global communities through environmentally sustainable policies and practices. However, the Foundation’s continued investment of a percentage of the endowment in the fossil fuel industry undermines WSU’s charitable mission.
Fossil fuel investments contribute to climate change, harming human health, compromising agriculture, and disproportionately affecting marginalized communities. Recognizing such impacts, in 2023 WSU issued its Commitment to Sustainability, pledging “pursuit of a sustainable and just future for our System, our partners, and our global neighbors.” The Sustainability Task Force was soon established to strategize development for environmental sustainability throughout WSU. Such measures clearly indicate WSU’s charitable purposes include environmentally sustainable frameworks. Yet the Foundation undermines these efforts, continuing to prioritize short-term financial gains over long-term public wellbeing by investing millions of dollars in an industry driving climate change.
Fossil Free WSU, a subcommittee of the Associated Students of WSU’s Environmental Sustainability Alliance, has advocated for divestment since 2021. We have conducted a student survey and petition, provided regular public comments at WSU’s Board of Regent meetings, and held tabling events and rallies. Despite this, the Foundation remains resistant to divestment. Many other U.S. universities have committed to fossil fuel divestment, proving its feasibility.
In a shift of strategy, Fossil Free WSU will submit a formal letter of public complaint to Washington state Attorney General Nick Brown on Earth Day, April 22, calling for an investigation of the Foundation’s investment practices regarding fossil fuels in light of its fiduciary responsibilities under UPMIFA.
If you are considering donating to the WSU Foundation, we encourage you to specify that your donation be invested in fossil-free, environmentally sustainable stocks.
Audrey Michelle Atchley
Fossil Free WSU
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One can only hope that the investment trustee’s see her comments for what they are. A young, life starved activist who speaks from emotion and not the brain. She appears to be caught up in fantasy instead of realty. I would be cautious of her in any real world job.
Richard, please see Isaiah 6:9-11, and especially Matt13:14-15. She is only one example.
TRUE‼️
Very sad, another young university student, states premise as fact and embarrassed herself in public with her limited knowledge.
The truly sad part is that both the federal government and the Washington State “government” is FULL of “people” such as her.
Why did you fall for Al Gore’s climate scam?
What evidence convinced you that we have a climate crisis?
*–Was it the fact that our current climate is TOTALLY withing historical norms?
*–Was it the fact that, in the ice cores that Al Gore showed in his movie, warming LEADS CO2 increase by an average of 800 years? (That little detail was just one of many lies in his film.)
*–Was it the fact that the IPCC said that there is INSUFFICIENT evidence to conclude that:
Floods have increased, storms have increased, hurricanes have increased, that sea level have increased faster than before man emitted CO2, droughts have increased?
*–Was it the fact that the Earth has warmed LESS THAN 2 degrees since the coldest time in 8000 years (about 1850)?
*–Was it the fact that man emits about 6% of the total annual CO2 emissions while nature emits about 94%?
*–Was it the fact that the Minoan, Roman and medieval warm periods were ALL WARMER THAN NOW and were all before man emitted CO2?
Evidence for each of the above can be found on the front page of DebunkingClimate.com
In fairness, I ask you to please post actual evidence that man’s CO2 is causing SERIOUS global warming, but please be sure to avoid these things that many people confuse for evidence:
1-Evidence of warming, unusual weather, storms, floods IS NOT evidence that man’s CO2 is the cause.
2-Correlation is not causation
3-An expert’s assertion, government’s assertion, consensus of experts, polls or majority belief are not evidence. They are hearsay.
4-Climate models are not evidence.
5-Warmest weather in 100 years means it was warmer 100 years ago when CO2 was lower.
6-If an event is NOT unprecedented, then you have to explain why whatever caused the earlier events is NOT the cause of the latest occurrence of that event.
—Evidence is actual data PRO AND CON with reasoned analysis and logical conclusions while FULLY CONSIDERING OPPOSING evidence.
Take a cardio rehab class and learn how CO2 is an important part of your life.