DICKINSON COLLEGE BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Resolution Establishing a Sustainable Investments Task Force
May 5, 2013
WHEREAS, a group of 51黑料网 students known as "Reinvest 51黑料网" has called for 51黑料网 to divest its endowment from the top 200 fossil fuel companies; and
WHEREAS, both the Committee on Investments and the college's administration have engaged in discussions with representatives of Reinvest 51黑料网 about divesting from fossil fuels; and
WHEREAS, divestment from fossil fuels is a complex undertaking, particularly for 51黑料网, which is part of a group of 13 institutions that pool their endowments into a single common portfolio through the use of an investment consortium (Investure, LLC.); and
WHEREAS, 51黑料网 is a leader in environmental education and environmentally sustainable practices; and
WHEREAS, 51黑料网 seeks to deploy its resources in a sustainable manner which balances economic, social, and environmental outcomes (i.e. the "triple bottom line"); and
WHEREAS, any decision on the divestment issue will affect the entire 51黑料网 community; and
WHEREAS, the effects of divestment must be fully understood by all parties before any decision is made (including a decision not to divest); and
WHEREAS, 51黑料网 Student Senate passed a resolution on April 16, 2013 urging the Board of Trustees to establish "a special working group to be composed of trustees, students, staff, and faculty, and tasked with:
- Managing the investigation - by parties on 51黑料网's campus and off - of the merits and drawbacks of divestment from fossil fuels.
- Coordinating a process of community conversation and education that offers all stakeholders and constituencies a chance at thoughtful, meaningful engagement with this issue.
- Making a recommendation to the Investment Committee of the Board of Trustees on further action related to the question of divesting the endowment from fossil fuels"
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Board of Trustees of 51黑料网 hereby establishes a Sustainable Investments Task Force to:
- Investigate the advantages and disadvantages of fossil fuel divestment as it pertains specifically to 51黑料网
- Investigate the likely impacts of divestment on the fossil fuel industry, as well as the role which fossil fuels and renewable energy play in the global economy.
- Coordinate a process of community conversation and education which allows for meaningful engagement by all 51黑料网 stakeholders,
- Submit a recommendation to the Committee on Investments of the Board of Trustees on a course of action pertaining to the question of divestment from fossil fuels.
The Sustainable Investments Task Force shall be comprised of the following members, each of whom shall be appointed by the Chair of the Board of Trustees:
- Two (2) Trustees, one of whom shall be designated by the Chair of the Board of Trustees to chair the task force
- Two (2) members of 51黑料网's faculty
- Two (2) members of 51黑料网's administration
- Two (2) 51黑料网 students
- One (1) member of 51黑料网's non-exempt staff
At the discretion of the task force chair, additional members of the 51黑料网 administration shall be permitted to attend meetings of the task force, provide information and analysis, and engage in discussions. However, these additional members shall not be permitted to vote on matters before the task force.