CDCJ

The Columbia board of trustees voted to divest from thermal coal producers at its most recent meeting, according to an announcement made by University President Lee Bollinger Monday morning.

The recent recommendation urging Columbia to divest from thermal coal, sent to the trustees by the Advisory Committee on Socially Responsible Investing last week, has been met with criticism from activists following its release.

Citing “the threat of catastrophic climate change,” a committee tasked with advising Columbia’s trustees on its investments has recommended that the University divest from companies who mine coal as an energy source.

I used to feel embarrassed by the term "activist." When I was heavily involved with the Fight for $15 movement, I'd stress to family and friends that I was just supporting a larger crusade. But by no means did this careful, deliberate wording change what I was doing. I still swept through countless McDonald's restaurants hollering, "Hold the burgers, hold the fries, we want our wages super-sized!" I led teach-ins and championed the campaign on local television; I even stood hand-in-hand with workers as Vice President Biden and Governor Cuomo announced New York City's minimum wage increase at the Javits Center. Dancing around epithets was a fruitless endeavor—but I couldn't shake the stinging derision of being thought of as an activist.

Last semester, I had a long discussion with Aries Dela Cruz, GS '09, who was a vociferous and devoted member of Columbia Queer Association during his time at Columbia. In the midst of the conversation, we began chatting about Columbia's stifling bureaucracy—a gripe nearly all students here could bond over. He said something that profoundly shifted my view of this institution and felt especially ominous in the wake of Columbia Divest for Climate Justice's protest in Low: "[The administration] often likes to announce things as new, things that they've already been working on, in order to make it seem like a demand has already been met."

Columbia Divest for Climate Justice staged a silent protest against the killings of environmental activists at a global free speech event featuring University President Lee Bollinger on Monday.

Members of Columbia Divest for Climate Justice interrupted an event featuring British Petroleum on Tuesday morning to protest what they called the company's abuse of workers, human rights and the environment.

Nine members of Columbia Divest for Climate Justice are continuing to occupy Low Library after a visit from rules administrator Suzanne Goldberg on Friday night.