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To: President Jackson,

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute: Go Fossil Free!

Because it is unconscionable to pay for our education with investments that will condemn the planet to climate disaster, we call on Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute to immediately freeze any new investment in fossil-fuel companies, and to divest within five years from direct ownership and from any commingled funds that include fossil-fuel public equities and corporate bonds.

Why is this important?

Climate change is accelerating.

We are witnessing the increasing impacts of a warming planet more and more consistently; in this last year alone our country experienced record-breaking heat, droughts, and hurricanes, which impacted hundreds of thousands of people and cost our country hundreds of billions of dollars. Hurricane Sandy alone caused $50bn in damages.

Experts agree that global warming caused by humans burning fossil fuels will continue to accelerate and intensify these tragic climate disasters. The scientific consensus is clear and overwhelming; we cannot safely burn even half of global fossil-fuel reserves without dangerously warming the planet for several thousand years.

As public pressure to confront climate change builds, we call on Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute to immediately freeze any new investment in fossil-fuel companies, and to divest within five years from direct ownership and from any commingled funds that include fossil-fuel public equities and corporate bonds. We believe such action on behalf of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute will not only be a sound decision for our institution’s financial portfolio, but also for the wellbeing of its current and future graduating classes, who deserve the opportunity to graduate with a future not defined by climate chaos.

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

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Updates

2013-10-06 22:41:26 -0400

50 signatures reached

2013-10-01 11:21:15 -0400

This weekend, October 4-6, Reunion and Homecoming will bring many RPI alums back to campus. RPI will host several special events for both current students and alumni. This is a good opportunity for us to spread awareness of our divestment campaign. A letter to the editor appeared in the September 25 Poly from Billy Rixon '68. He will be standing in support of the campaign with signs and banners at the football game at 12:30 on Saturday afternoon, and at the hockey game at 6:30 on Saturday evening. If you are able to and would like to join him, please do! Feel free to contact me, Claire Superak ([email protected]) if you have any questions.