The Oneida Daily Dispatch (Oneida, NY)
DEMANDING ACTION
Hamilton College students pressure the Board to divest from fossil fuels
CLINTON, N.Y. » Hamilton College student climate activists demanded action from the college’s Board of Trustees to cut ties to fossil fuels at a recent climate justice rally.
The civil act of protest was organized and facilitated by student members of the Sunrise Movement, a national grassroots climate activist organization that formed a hub in Hamilton College this past September.
Since forming less than a year ago, the student-run organization has hosted three rallies and continues to strive for change on campus, the organization said.
A strategically planned event, this rally was formed in response to the Board of Trustees’ presence on campus for a quarterly meeting. The actions of the Board do not currently sit well with the student group, and with the support of others, they’re demanding the Board act in accordance to support a growing movement against a climate crisis.
“The Sunrise Movement has been demanding since
“This isn’t just about one college divesting. This is a global movement.” — student activist Sarah Gyurina
the fall of 2019 that the Board divest the college’s endowment from fossil fuel companies and reinvest an equal or greater amount of money into renewable energy companies,” the Sunrise Movement said in a press release.
A diverse group of activists joined in the rally, from students, young and old, professors, and even concerned citizens from outside the college.
Rally emcee Emily Fienco, Hamilton College class of 2023, opened the event by first acknowledging that the college is on the land of the Oneida people, adding further that it is important that activists stand in solidarity with indigenous people, especially those “who will be on the front lines of the climate crisis.”
Along with demanding the college end its support and investment in fossil fuels, the student group also demanded the college declare a climate emergency, release a white paper defending its investments should they choose to reject divestment and increase its consultation of the Oneida Indian Nation in decision making.
From there, cold temperatures and frigid fingers didn’t stop the group from making their voices heard. Cardboard protest signs sprinkled the crowd, saying “No thyself, divest our wealth,” and “Do I still have to pay my student loans if the planet is dead?” to name a few.
“We as students have [the] power to make changes on campus,” one member of the rally stated.
“This isn’t just about one college divesting,” said student activist Sarah Gyurina, class of 2022, “This is a global movement.”
Hamilton’s noticeable lack of climate urgency did not fare well when compared to others.
Gyurina emphasized in her speech that Hamilton is falling behind in terms of fighting climate change, pointing directly to Georgetown University and Middlebury College who have already listened to students’ demands and begun divesting in fossil fuels.
Neighboring college, Colgate University, announced in 2019 that it became the first higher education institution in New York State to achieve carbon neutrality, according to their website, which may put more pressure on Hamilton to catch up.
Student Assembly President Tommy Keith, Hamilton College class of 2022, further criticized the college’s overall lack of sustainable initiatives across campus.
“Hamilton College continues to be one of the most wasteful colleges in the New England Small College Athletic Conference,” he stated. Wasteful behaviors, a lack of composting education, and recycling neglect were a view areas he felt Hamilton needed improvement.
The student speeches were supplemented by chants, songs, dancing, and an open mic for anyone to respectfully share their concerns.
A common theme throughout the rally was giving less-privileged and marginalized groups the power to speak and be heard. Fienco stated, “I think about how marginalized people will be hurt first and worst by the [climate] crisis.” She and others at the rally claimed that they would be giving minorities the opportunity to speak first to ensure equal distribution of opinions and power.
“[The effects of climate change] will hit low income, black and brown first,” said Malik Irish, class of 2022, Posse Boston Scholar, and member of the Black and Latinx Student Union. “For a school that wants to push for diversity and inclusion, not taking [climate change] seriously... shows the privilege and racist biases many of you hold.”
Chants such as “Hey, hey, ho ho, fossil fuels have got to go” and “Who’s campus? Our campus!” rang through the crowd, not to be ignored from those passing by.
The rally took place purposely in front of Buttrick Hall, which was thought to be the meeting place for the Board of Trustees, one member of the Sunrise Movement explained. It was later revealed that the Board would not be meeting at that location; the news was greeted with disappointment and suspicion.
“Why aren’t they here?” one rally member asked Hamilton College President David Wippman, who attended the rally briefly. The question was met with no direct answers from Wippman, but he tried to assure students that he was “talking with the Board.”
It was unclear whether the Board was originally going to meet in Buttrick Hall or not.
Another rally member spoke out, declaring, “Speaking to students is the Board’s job!”
The Sunrise movement invited Wippman and the Board to come to the rally and hear student’s concerns, but the Board never showed. The Sunrise Movement outlined in a press release that the authority figures would have only been allowed to speak at the rally if they were going to announce a change in policy relating to the list of the demands that the students put out.
In an official statement released in regards to the rally, the college said “Hamilton College shares the concerns about climate change voiced by many in our community, and the president and Investment Committee members have had numerous meetings with students, faculty, and staff to listen to their reasoning on divestment. The Board of Trustees takes care to exercise responsibly its obligation to steward funds entrusted to us in support of the College’s educational mission and will continue conversations on divestment and Esg-focused funds.”
One rally member was able to sum up the motivations for the civil display that afternoon, stating, “This is our money. This is our campus. This is our life.”
Those who’d like to continue the fight can join Sunrise Movement Hamilton College for events on Earth Day and beyond. Members from the rally said they hope to see more participation from upperclassmen in the future.