|
October 2010 Newsletter  Dear Friends, The Responsible Endowments Coalition believes that a more equitable and just world is possible, and that colleges and universities, as institutions dedicated to educating young people to live in the world, should be acting on the values that they try to instill in their students and create on campus - citizenship, sustainability and respect. Institutions of higher education are leaders in many of these respects on campus, and vocally promote diversity and environmental sustainability - they can also be leaders in changing the way that money flows to influence their students and the world around them. A commitment to changing their universities for the better brought more than 80 students from schools across the country to New York for REC's 7th Annual National Conference, Harnessing the Power of Our Universities' Money, held this past weekend at Columbia University. Read on to learn more about the about the content, the speakers and the campaigns currently underway at our schools! This is also why it is both so exciting and angering to see an article like the one published in the New York Times at the end of September on the University of California's poor proxy voting record. REC students on campus have successfully made this a major issue for the UC system, but the investment office still holds that their job, pure and simple, is to make as much money as possible. Money First. What kind of message does that send to the world from a school that has changed perceptions about public education by bringing higher education to a much wider range of people? At REC, we are working to change how universities understand their finances, bring stakeholders into the process and oversight into the investment offices of the impacts that their investments are having. In this isue, you'll read about our 7th Annual National Conference, new blog posts including one about the UC system and an interview where Steve Schueth of First Affirmative Financial Networks shares a message with students about responsible and sustainable investment. If you have any questions about your campaign or want to get involved, please shoot an email to our National Organizer at organize@endowmentethics.org.
Peace and Justice,
Dan Apfel & the REC Team
Thanks to our 2010 Conference Sponsors:
Activist   
Supporter
Boston Common Asset Management, Consultiva, First Affirmative Financial Network, Parnassus Investments, The Sustainability Group, TruCost, University Bank and Walden Asset Management
Click here to see the Conference Program!
Nathan Cummings Foundation taking on political contributions read more
First student run impact investing fund started at the Univ. of Utah! read more
Guilford College
This year at Guilford, a new REC member, is its "year of sustainability" and students are aiming to work with the administration on making sure its investment policies are aligned with the schools message. Portland State (Oregon)
At Portland State, another new REC member, students are exploring tying their campuses values of sustainability and locality to community investment or other responsible investment initiatives. Macalester College
Students are seeking a lasting partnership with community banks such as University Bank, and an expansion of community-related investment projects. Read more campus updates here!  This year, REC's National Conference: Harnessing the Power of Our Universities' Money, was a huge success! Students from across the country joined us for two days of comprehensive responsible investment education and organizing training. We are excited to welcome a number of new REC member schools and look forward to spreading awareness and seeing action in this upcoming year! Check out a the pic below of our keynote speakers, Leslie Lowe, shareholder engagement consultant and Sarah Ludwig, NEDAP. Their presentation really kicked up the energy level for the launch of Move Our Money, REC’s national campaign to encourage colleges and universities to take their money out of big banks and move it to support local communities. Leslie Lowe & Sarah Ludwig
Students, are you interested in running a community investment campaign on your campus?
REC has updated its Student Handbook, click below to learn everything you need to know about how to organize on your campus.
REC Student Handbook "(Responsible investors) want our money doing good things and making money at the same time. We are conscious of how our money is working in the world and know that it has an impact..."
- Steve Schueth, First Affirmative Financial Network 641 Avenue of the Americas, 3rd Floor New York, NY 10011
|
No comments:
Post a Comment