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May 12, 2016

Group to look into fossil fuel divestment

Faculty Assembly has asked Senate President Frank Wilson to name an ad hoc committee to look into issue of divesting the University’s investment in the fossil fuels industry.

Michael Goodhart, faculty member in political science, raised the issue at the Assembly’s May 10 meeting, citing the activity of the Fossil Free Pitt Coalition (FFPC) student group.

In a March 19, 2015, letter to the University Times, FFPC estimated that the University invests 4.7 percent of its $3.5 billion endowment in fossil fuel industry and urged the University to divest its endowment from the 200 largest fossil fuel companies as an example of ethical leadership.

Goodhart said he wasn’t asking the Assembly to take a position, only to form the committee to look into the issue. He noted that the FFPC met with the Board of Trustees student affairs committee in February after the University disclosed the amount of its fossil fuels investments.

Goodhart asked that the ad hoc committee consult with the student group and the trustees committee.

—Kimberly K. Barlow 

 


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