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Clark College Environmental Action Club Frustrated by Officials' response
August 21, 2022 by Anna Mattson; The Columbian
Katelyn Sedig joined the Clark College Environmental Action Club last fall when she was approached by the previous president, who noticed she was reading “All We Can Save,” an environmental book focused on solutions to the climate crisis.
She said she ... *There is a paywall, to read the rest you must be subscribed to The Columbian*
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Environmental Action Club Moves Forward With Letters To Clark College Foundation
June 3, 2022 by Holland Burris; The Indy
On April 20, the Environmental Action Club sent letters to the Clark College Foundation, asking them to fully divest from fossil fuels.
The Environmental Action Club formed on Clark’s campus last fall with the goal of removing connections to the fossil fuels industry. The club directed their focus to the Clark College Foundation, a non-profit that donates to the college. The letters are an escalated request to the foundation, as a result of the earlier ask from the club to the foundation, urging them to divulge information about their investments regarding fossil fuels.
The letter included three main requests: for the foundation to disclose investment portfolios publicly, to vote to on a halt to any new investments, direct or indirect, to the fossil fuels industry, and to divest from mutual funds directly involved with the industry within the next five years.
“Our ultimate goal is divestment,” co-president Amelia Cole said. “We want them to ultimately divest all their funds from fossil fuels. But we also know that is a big task.”
When asked by the club in fall quarter, the foundation stated that they have no direct links to the fossil fuel industry, only indirect ones through mutual funds.
According to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, a mutual fund is defined as a company that brings money together from multiple individuals and invests it in different assets.
The foundation wrote a letter to the Indy with further information about their investments which can be found here.
The club sent two letters to the foundation: one from the club, to the new chief executive officer of the foundation, Calen Ouellette, and one from environmental activist and Clark alumnus, Denis Hayes, who addressed his letter to the foundation’s board of trustees.
The Letters can be found here: Letter to the Board (2)-1, Hayes Clark College Divestment-1
“We want to bring Vancouver’s deep concern with the Industry to Mr. Ouellette’s attention,” other co-president Katelyn Sedig said. “As someone who prioritizes public relations, Calen knows that his and Clark’s reputation relies on our communities’ pleas of severance from the Fossil Fuel Industry being heard and addressed. We are really just amplifying our communities’ concerns.”
The foundation made a formal reply to The Indy, saying that they only have a small portion of their investments are indirectly tied to mutual funds that may mix with fossil fuels industries.
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The foundation made a formal reply to The Indy, saying that they only have a small portion of their investments are indirectly tied to mutual funds that may mix with fossil fuels industries.
“We applaud Clark students for their commitment to this important undertaking,” said Ouellette. “We support them in their dedicated task.”
Both Sedig and Cole hope that the letters will bring forth a deeper conversation with the foundation about its investments.
“We want to fight until it’s done,” Cole said.
Read the original article here.
Environmental Action Club Continues Divestment Campaign for Clearer Answers from Clark College Foundation
October 29, 2021 by Holland Burris; The Indy
It’s an attestable fact that climate change is upon us. Ocean levels are rising, diseases are becoming more lethal, and wildfires are out of control. We’ve been aware for decades, but what are we supposed to do with less than an estimated seven years to change?
Environmental Action Club co-presidents Chloe Marshall and Katelyn Sedig are attempting to answer that question by holding the Clark College Foundation, a non-profit that donates funds to the college, accountable for its indirect spending in the fossil fuel industry by campaigning for divestment.
According to the Clark College Foundation chief executive officer, Lisa Gibert, the foundation doesn’t have direct investments in fossil fuels, including coal, oil, or gas companies and the foundation does not aim to invest their assets in fossil fuel corporations. The full letter can be read here.
“We have instructed our investment consultants to actually take a look at what our indirect exposure to fossil fuels is,” Gibert said. “We don’t have the answer to what the exact percentage is at this point in time, but we are looking into that.”
Both co-presidents of the club were not surprised that the foundation only has indirect investments in the fossil fuel industry, however both agree that still being indirectly involved is still not enough to solve the problem.
The Environmental Action Club is dissatisfied with the foundation’s response.
“By saying you have indirect investments, it’s just another way of saying, ok, I’m not handing Exxonmobil a check, but I am giving money to a mutual fund that includes fossil fuels.” Marshall said.
According to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, a mutual fund is defined as a company that brings money together from multiple individuals and invests it in different assets.
“It’s 2021, we need an actual commitment against fossil fuels,” Sedig said. “I don’t think they are doing enough to actually support that. It’s clear it’s just not really a priority.”
Sydney Brahmavar, advisor to the Environmental Action Club and a professor of Global Climate Change at Clark said she thought the letter was belittling and talked down to the club members as if they didn’t understand what a mutual fund is.
“The last few sentences seemed like you [students] had accused them of some kind of misconduct or fraud, when investments in fossil fuels is clearly not fraud, but could be perceived as unethical given what we know as an academic institution what climate change means for the future of our students.” Brahmavar said.
Marshall and Sedig still plan to pursue the foundation to achieve divestment from all fossil fuel investments, thanks to the help from Taryn Oakley, Environmental Science instructor at Portland Community College and activist with a focus on college divestment for 350PDX.org, a non-profit organization dedicated to climate justice. Oakley said she felt the letter was vague and a placeholder to get the club off the foundation’s back.
“Just because you’re not invested in Chevron or Exxon, if they’re invested in other corporations that are financing these projects, it can seem maybe like it’s more indirect but it’s not necessarily as indirect as one might think. ” Oakley said.
Oakley thinks that if the foundation released more information about their investments, this would help the club understand what the actual exposure to the industry is. However, she said this may be difficult to gain access to, so she thinks the club should focus their energy on being educated and educating others for now.
“These fossil fuel corporations are able to do what they are doing because people are giving them money, they’re investing money into these projects,” Oakley said. “If we stop this flow of money, and they no longer have the money to build new pipelines or make new projects, then we’ll start to see fossil fuels decrease.”
Kathleen Perillo, professor of Environmental Science at Clark College and other co-advisor to the Environmental Action Club had similar ideas. Perillo thinks that shifting spending to renewable energy is a possible solution. It all starts with our community.
“I think Clark should be a leader in the community,” Perillo said. “In that way I think we should be demonstrating what it means to be an ecological citizen on the planet.”
Perillo is delighted to see students getting involved in the action because she said that we are already seeing the effects of climate change in our community with the wildfires that are occurring in the Pacific Northwest. Marshall said she feared for a friend’s life when the heat wave in the Portland metro area happened last July, further pushing her to start the campaign.
The club has been asking for signatures at every turn, even going so far as to ask people at the Vancouver’s Farmers market for pledges. The goal is 500 signatures, and currently they are at 110.
Pushing the Clark College Foundation to divest completely is just the first step. Each member of the club had their own personal reasons why they decided to join the Environmental Action Club. Friends, family, and communities all affected by the damage happening to the planet. When asked why they joined, no one stated their feelings quite as strongly as club member Diego Quintero.
“I think it could be boiled down to three words: join or die.” Quintero said.
The Environmental Action Club meets every Friday at 3 p.m. in Penguin Union Building room 161 and are planning a tree planting for Nov. 6. More information about the Environmental Action Club and their activities can be found on their website at https://clarkclimateaction.wixsite.com/home. You can contact Chloe Marshall at (360)-448-5448 or at clarkclimateaction@gmail.com.
Their Response
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Student Sketch: Student Starts Environmental Action Club to Encourage More Eco-Friendly Practices
October 7, 2021 by Holland Burris; The Indy
Chloe Marshall, 19, is scared for her future.
Marshall has wanted to take action to help combat the climate crisis, but for quite a while, she didn’t know where to begin. By starting the Environmental Action Club at Clark College this year, Marshall intends to create a space where anyone can take action and advocate.
“We’re a club dedicated to shifting the tide from climate change awareness to action.” Marshall says. “We want to take real, dedicated steps to fighting the climate crisis.”
The Environmental Action Club first started spreading the word about their ideas at the Involvement Fair at Clark College on Sept. 22.
At the fair, Marshall, the co-president, put out the club’s petition, to encourage students to support their campaign to have the Clark College Foundation, an organization that donates funds to Clark College, officially disclose how they are spending their money. Specifically, regarding the fossil fuel industry.
The foundation is a non-profit that receives funds from Clark College alumni as well as other individuals and organizations. When asked whether they are investing in the fossil fuel industry, the foundation responded by saying they will be providing that information in the near future.
The Environmental Action Club wants a definitive answer, and a change in spending. The club’s solution to the problem is divestment.
“Most universities are giving money to the fossil fuel industry, so we want to make sure they [Clark] aren’t doing that.” Marshall says. “And if they are, we want to encourage them to divest.”
Marshall is finishing up her associate degree at Clark this term, but she is aiming to get the club chartered.
“If you are interested in preserving your future, if you are afraid of climate change, if you want to help but you don’t know where to start, this is a really good place to start,” says Marshall.
The Environmental Action Club meets every Friday at 3 p.m. in PUB 161 and are planning a tree planting for Nov.6. More information about the Environmental Action Club and their activities, can be found on their website. You can contact Chloe Marshall at (360)-448-5448 or at clarkclimateaction@gmail.com.
The Indy interviewed Marshall during the first week of fall term to hear from students as Clark resumed in-person classes. Other articles can be found in our Student Sketch series.
Correction: An earlier version of this story said that the Clark College Foundation declined to disclose whether it invested in the fossil fuel industry. The foundation has not yet provided that information. The Indy regrets this error.
Update Oct. 21: On Oct. 14, the foundation gave the Indy a statement that they have no direct investment in the fossil fuel industry. However, they said that there may be indirect investments.
Their Response
