New Haven: “Yale Students Protest Fossil Fuel Investments”

Yale Students Protest Fossil Fuel InvestmentsYale Students Protest Fossil Fuel Investments New Haven, Connecticut – Students at Yale University gathered on Thursday, March 16, to protest the university’s continued investment in companies that extract and burn fossil fuels. The demonstration was part of a nationwide movement calling on universities to divest from fossil fuels. The protest began with a rally at Yale’s Old Campus, where students chanted slogans and held signs that read “Divest Yale” and “Climate Justice Now.” Several students shared their personal stories and experiences of the impacts of climate change. “I’m from Miami, and I’ve seen firsthand how sea level rise is threatening my home,” said Sarah Jones, a Yale sophomore. “Yale’s investments in fossil fuels are contributing to this crisis, and I can’t stand for it.” After the rally, the students marched to Yale’s investment office, where they delivered a petition with over 3,000 signatures calling for the university to divest from fossil fuels. The petition was received by Yale’s Chief Investment Officer, David Swensen, who promised to review the students’ request. “We are grateful for the opportunity to meet with the students and hear their concerns,” Swensen said. “We take climate change very seriously, and we are committed to investing in a sustainable future.” However, the students were skeptical of Swensen’s promises. They pointed out that Yale has repeatedly resisted calls to divest from fossil fuels in the past. “Yale has a long history of putting profits over people,” said Max Boykoff, a Yale junior. “We won’t be fooled by empty promises anymore. We demand that Yale divest from fossil fuels immediately.” The protest at Yale is part of a growing movement of university divestment campaigns. In recent years, several universities, including Harvard, Stanford, and the University of California system, have divested from fossil fuels. Students and activists are hopeful that Yale will join this growing list and take a stand against climate change.