The Board of Governors has officially agreed to divest our endowment fund from arms manufacturers. This victory belongs to everyone who refused to stay silent and kept the pressure on for months. We will hold them to this commitment and watch the implementation process closely.
June 19, 2016
We call on the York University Board of Governors to divest from arms manufacturers
Final supporters
Whereas an examination of York University’s investment holdings revealed that York invests its endowment fund in arms manufacturers;
Whereas York University has invested in Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, BAE Systems and Textron, among other weapons companies that are involved in supplying various regimes, international-law violations, wars and armed conflicts around the world;
Whereas York students, faculty, alumni and staff come from diverse backgrounds, often leaving behind families affected by war and armed conflict;
Whereas York University "strives to be a leading post-secondary institution for sustainability";
Whereas York University’s Mission Statement proclaims its commitment to social justice;
Whereas renowned political science professor Saeed Rahnema stated in Excalibur that investment by an educational institution in a military-related company is totally unacceptable: "The university should find ways to contribute to efforts towards peace and avoid any involvement with anything that has to do with military and war."
We, the undersigned, call on the York University Board of Governors to divest from arms manufacturers.
Updates
May 30, 2016
The Board of Governors continues to ignore our demands but they cannot ignore the growing public pressure. Email the board members today to ask why they choose to profit from war instead of upholding their mission statement. Post this link on your Facebook feed so our campaign reaches more people across campus.
May 30, 2016
The momentum behind this demand proves that our community will not accept the university financing war. Post the link to your Facebook page and text three friends to keep this pressure building right now. We are forcing the Board of Governors to take notice.
Reached 100 supporters
May 30, 2016
22 Comments
As President of the Organization for World Peace at York University, we strongly believe that any public university should disassociate itself from weapons production.
I am in favour of transparency and consent in terms of how York University should spend our money. Furthermore, I think that it is b/s that York continues to invest in arms manufacturing. York should invest in projects that help build lives, not destroy them. Drop books, not bombs!
As a conscientious objector to military service in my native Germany, I find it unacceptable to work as an institution that invests its endowment fund in arms manufacturers.
Universities are mandated to nurture knowledge, progress and wisdom and understanding of others. It should not be profiting from war and the deaths of others.
It is completely unacceptable that a University which claims to support social justice invests in weapons companies. It's time to sever York's connections to an industry that profits directly from war and destruction!
It's the right thing to do.
People over profits! It's unbelievable that a progressive educational institution invests in the weapons industry.
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The Board of Governors has officially agreed to divest our endowment fund from arms manufacturers. This victory belongs to everyone who refused to stay silent and kept the pressure on for months. We will hold them to this commitment and watch the implementation process closely.
June 19, 2016
We call on the York University Board of Governors to divest from arms manufacturers
Final supporters
Whereas an examination of York University’s investment holdings revealed that York invests its endowment fund in arms manufacturers;
Whereas York University has invested in Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, BAE Systems and Textron, among other weapons companies that are involved in supplying various regimes, international-law violations, wars and armed conflicts around the world;
Whereas York students, faculty, alumni and staff come from diverse backgrounds, often leaving behind families affected by war and armed conflict;
Whereas York University "strives to be a leading post-secondary institution for sustainability";
Whereas York University’s Mission Statement proclaims its commitment to social justice;
Whereas renowned political science professor Saeed Rahnema stated in Excalibur that investment by an educational institution in a military-related company is totally unacceptable: "The university should find ways to contribute to efforts towards peace and avoid any involvement with anything that has to do with military and war."
We, the undersigned, call on the York University Board of Governors to divest from arms manufacturers.
Updates
May 30, 2016
The Board of Governors continues to ignore our demands but they cannot ignore the growing public pressure. Email the board members today to ask why they choose to profit from war instead of upholding their mission statement. Post this link on your Facebook feed so our campaign reaches more people across campus.
May 30, 2016
The momentum behind this demand proves that our community will not accept the university financing war. Post the link to your Facebook page and text three friends to keep this pressure building right now. We are forcing the Board of Governors to take notice.
Reached 100 supporters
May 30, 2016
22 Comments
As a prospective student of York, I find the affliation of a university that prides itself on education to promote social justice with arms manufacturing and extractive, exploitative industries a complete hypocrisy. If York does not take swift action to divest, I will be seriously reconsidering attending and shall educate my peers on doing the same.
As President of the Organization for World Peace at York University, we strongly believe that any public university should disassociate itself from weapons production.
I am in favour of transparency and consent in terms of how York University should spend our money. Furthermore, I think that it is b/s that York continues to invest in arms manufacturing. York should invest in projects that help build lives, not destroy them. Drop books, not bombs!
As a conscientious objector to military service in my native Germany, I find it unacceptable to work as an institution that invests its endowment fund in arms manufacturers.
Universities are mandated to nurture knowledge, progress and wisdom and understanding of others. It should not be profiting from war and the deaths of others.
It is completely unacceptable that a University which claims to support social justice invests in weapons companies. It's time to sever York's connections to an industry that profits directly from war and destruction!
It's the right thing to do.
People over profits! It's unbelievable that a progressive educational institution invests in the weapons industry.
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As a prospective student of York, I find the affliation of a university that prides itself on education to promote social justice with arms manufacturing and extractive, exploitative industries a complete hypocrisy. If York does not take swift action to divest, I will be seriously reconsidering attending and shall educate my peers on doing the same.