What is divestment and what does it mean for NMU? - Sustainability Hub for Innovation & Environment

After a two year long campaign by DivestNMU, on December 15th, 2023 the NMU
Board of Trustees voted unanimously to divest Northerns investments from the fossil fuel
industry. This means that by 2028, NMU’s endowment fund will cease to have investments
funding fossil fuels, which currently 6% is indirectly invested towards the industry as well as
increase their sustainability-related investments by up to 15%.

This monumental change is a step in the right direction towards climate action at NMU.
DivestNMU, a student organization, has been campaigning for the administration to divest their
endowment since October of 2021. Below is their statement on the passing of divestment:

“DivestNMU originated in October 2021 from a highly motivated group of students that
were a part of the EcoReps student organization. Sitting around a campfire on the shores of Lake
Superior, students came together with the goal of the university achieving divestment from fossil
fuel companies. With an initial campus wide petition and protest, DivestNMU gained momentum
drawing the attention of local news broadcasters, faculty, students, and the Board of Trustees.
The administration was very keen to work with us over the last two years and used our objectives
from our original proposal to create the university’s divestment strategy. This work could not
have been possible without the groups’ advisor and NMU professor Ryan Stock and the group of
students dedicated to campaigning for the university to eliminate its investments in the fossil fuel
industry. These students include alumni and current students Molly Miller, Hilde Eide, Julia
Hrynkiw, Zoe Tardy, Taylor Schmitt, Marley Wolff, Laura Whipple, Mackenzie Geary, Maggie
Bailey, and Kolibri Drobish. Students a part of DivestNMU wish to thank and applaud the NMU
administration for taking action in this notable step towards campus climate action.”

This past Friday, at Northern Climate Networks Climate @ Noon, DivestNMU past and
present members presented about how they were able to make this systemic change. From
research, outreach and education, to protesting and meeting with administration, there was a lot
of hard work and effort that went on behind the scenes of their campaign. If you weren’t able to
make it, but want to hear more about their story or learn about what divestment means for NMU
you can watch it here. In addition to that, if you want to read more about the December Board of
Trustees meeting, you can find Northern Today's article here.

Written by: Mackenzie Geary