For ten years now, Divest MTA has been calling on the university to take their endowment funds out of investments in fossil fuel companies. This week, the group took their demands to the halls of Centennial Hall, the home of Mount Allison’s administrative offices. It’s been a small, friendly occupation, with Divest MtA members scheduling themselves between and around classes in order to keep a presence in the building while its open every day, from 7am to 6pm.
It all culminates today, in a march around campus as part of climate strikes taking place across the globe.
CHMA dropped in to speak with Divest MTA members Mikko McGregor Corson and Islay Fraser to hear about what’s behind their action on Wednesday.
Corson says that after 10 years of lobbying and negotiating with the university, the group decided to ramp up their physical presence. “If we have a meeting every few months, they can forget about it between those times,” says Corson. “But if they actually have to see us every time they walk down the stairs, we think that’s more of a physical reminder.”
Divest MTA has had some wins in their cause recently. Islay notes vocal support from university president Dr. Jean Paul Boudreau, and also recent meetings with university administration who have told the group they are “looking into” divestment.
“Part of why we’re here is we want to put a little bit of pressure on, to hurry up the process a little bit,” says Islay. “Because we feel like it’s not really going quickly enough.”
The demand sounds straightforward. “We are asking the university to immediately divest all of the endowment funds from the top 200 fossil fuel companies, which is over $8 million,” says Corson. “And we are also asking them within the next five years to divest from fossil fuels completely.”
CHMA reached out to Mount Allison to hear their reaction to the student action, and received an emailed statement from Vice President Robert Inglis, saying the school encourages “conversation and debate on our campus and regularly engages with student groups, including students involved in Divest MtA.” Inglis said he and the school’s finance director had met with the group in February, and informally throughout this week.
Inglis said, “the University takes its responsibility regarding climate change very seriously and our approach to reducing the University’s environmental footprint is continually evolving.”
He referenced the school’s membership in SHARE, the Shareholder Association for Research and Education, a group that lobbies corporations on environmental and social factors on behalf of investors.
In the past, Divest members have criticized that strategy, calling it a public image campaign, and continued their call for divesting Mt A endowments from fossil fuel companies.
Today’s climate march starts at 10:15am in the breezeway between the Ralph Pickard Bell library and the Crabtree building. All are invited to join.
