NYU Divest is a coalition of students, faculty, and alumni calling for NYU to divest from fossil fuels. They protested the school’s failure to meet with their group by occupying a library elevator from 8 a.m. on Sunday to 5 p.m. on Monday.
The administration did not like that very much.
The occupation was a response to delayed action from the university to divest from fossil fuels, and the NYU administration going back on a promise to let the group meet with the board of trustees. The elevator they blocked only goes to the 11th and 12th floors, where the NYU administrative offices are located. The 18 students who stayed past 1 a.m. (the library’s closing time), were all told they would face disciplinary action.
On Monday, protesters quickly learned that “disciplinary action” was not a light threat. The administration gave NYU Divest a statement with their decision and stated, “failure to accept this agreement and end the occupation by 5 p.m. would result in immediate suspension for all students who stayed overnight.”
Cue students accepting the agreement. Here’s the settlement:
- A good-faith effort would be made to address fossil fuel divestment at the upcoming board meeting.
- The board would issue a statement explaining their ultimate decision on divestment.
- All trustees would be provided with campaign materials.
- The coalition would not meet with the full board, but could meet with the boards investment committee, which includes 10 of the 68 board members.
The students were not happy to comply, but there was too much at stake.
“We had to accept this offer now because we could not afford to risk our futures,” said Sophie Lasoff, one of the students at risk of suspension.
“We are ending our protest now, but we will not stop advocating for a fair hearing for fossil fuel divestment. Despite this outrageous development, we still successfully achieved our other three demands and are proud of that victory,” she said.
The occupation, along with a similar one at Columbia University, was endorsed by presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders on Twitter:
Other endorsements include Yale, Cornell, and the University of Massachusetts divestment movements.
To put it simply: College students are making moves to save environment.
For more information on the elevator occupation, read Lasoff’s blog on the event.