Divestment consideration

Chico State President Paul Zingg has told students behind an effort to get the school to divest itself from fossil fuel companies that the matter will be brought up at the June 26 University Foundation Board meeting.

“I will request that the University Foundation Board of Governors take up the discussion about divestment at its upcoming meetings,” Zingg wrote. “The University Foundation Board’s consideration of this measure typifies the importance of sustainability on campus.”

The advisory measure asking the University Foundation to withdraw investments in fossil fuel companies was resoundingly approved in the spring student elections, with 80 percent in favor of the measure, though only 24 percent of the entire student body voted.

Professor Mark Stemen said each of the students in his Geography 440 class, which was behind the measure, wrote a letter to Zingg and he responded to each. Also, 60 faculty members have signed a petition supporting divestment.