Students continue lobbying for fossil fuel divestment and more investments in education
GUELPH, ON, Feb. 1, 2018 /CNW/ - On February 1, 2018 students, and community members are gathering to rally together for two demands; invest in education, divest from fossil fuels. The UofG Central Student Association has partnered up with Fossil Free Guelph to gather solidarity and support on the issue of underfunded education and investments in fossil fuels.
Recently the Board of Governors at the University passed a motion to delay their decision on whether the institution will divest $30 million from the worst fifty-five fossil fuel companies out of several that it currently invests in. The students are urging an open-forward thinking conversation that will lead to meet Fossil Free Guelph's demands of a freeze in current invests and a divestment gradually over a five-year period. The student-run action group wants to keep the topic of fossil fuel divestment relevant.
The student union, the CSA is asking the university to freeze future tuition fee increases, and is calling on the provincial government to invest in public education. In October 2017 the Board of Governors approved a tuition increase for the upcoming academic year, with minimal consultation over an expedited period. The lack of public funding has resulted in more private investments, such as fossil fuels and a lower standard of schooling. The CSA is asking for more student consultation, especially in terms of tuition fees and the quality of education.
The Day of Action will include guest speakers, including students, Canadian Federation of Students representatives, union leaders, as well as videos on what accessible education will look like, and a march across campus. The end goal with this event is to keep the topic of tuition fees and fossil fuel divestment at the forefront of people's minds.
SOURCE University of Guelph Central Student Association
Chelsea Mulvale, CSA President at [email protected]; Kayla Weiler, CSA VP External Affairs at [email protected]
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