Last week, I proudly signed a petition to put University divestment from fossil fuel companies on the ballot this Thursday. It was, and still is, inspiring to see students coming together and mobilizing on the issue of climate change. There is an incredible amount of support on campus for this worthy cause-the movement has already gathered hundreds of student signatures and received the support of almost every electoral candidate for Student Union-and I have no doubt that if the University does in fact divest from fossil fuels we will be sending a strong message to the rest of the nation and the world.

Yet, despite seeing all the passion surrounding this movement, I must question its effectiveness. Is divestment the best way to preserve the planet for future generations? Why are we putting so much energy into divestment when there are other environmental issues that must be addressed? How much does divestment actually hurt the fossil fuel companies?

The truth is that divestment is largely symbolic.

Universities do not have that much invested in these companies in the first place, and even so, reducing our stock shares by divesting is not the same as lowering actual company profits. So long as there is a market with demand for fossil fuels, the companies will continue to produce fossil fuels and make money. As Christian Parenti, a professor of sustainable development at the School for International Training puts it, divestment "does not hurt Big Carbon's bottom line." Moreover, while it's been widely touted that colleges and universities have over $400 billion in endowments, only a small percentage of that is actually invested in fossil fuel stocks. In fact, a recent article in a publication by the Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies comes to the conclusion that although universities may hold numerous shares of fossil fuels companies, "it's still nowhere near the amount of money it would take to have a real impact on the oil giants."

Additionally, there is legitimate concern that losing investments in fossil fuels could impact the University's ability to offer financial aid and scholarships. This was the case at the University of New Hampshire, where the president of the university responded to students pushing for divestment late last year by saying: "Those who would seek to limit the scope of foundation investments should introduce themselves to the current UNH students who would have their financial aid suspended as a result of such actions." While I do not believe that this is a reason to halt the divestment campaign, it is definitely something that must be taken into consideration. Some sort of work-around must be found to make sure that students who are currently receiving financial aid are still able to attend Brandeis.

Divestment sends out a loud and clear message to the public and thus should continue to be encouraged, but environmentally-committed students at Brandeis should not be giving it all their attention. Petitions, displays of solidarity and symbols can only do so much-what we truly need to focus on are concrete actions to reduce our dependence on fossil fuels and green our campus as a whole. Simply put, divestment should only be one part of a many-faceted approach to make our campus greener.

This means that other environmental issues on campus should be addressed. Whether it is installing solar panels on roofs or making sure that buildings are energy-efficient, it is within our power to reduce our own fossil fuel consumption. Nothing bothers me more than seeing lights left on in classrooms overnight or having to crack open a window in mid-April because my residence hall is still being heated. I should not have to use disposable silverware at Usdan Student Center because that is all that is left and I should not have to use paper towels to dry my hands in the bathroom because there is no dryer. These are small, workable changes that can lead to impressive results, and I am confident that students can push for and accomplish these changes. Such initiatives would not only reduce our carbon footprint, but would arguably send an even stronger message to the public and the fossil fuel companies.

Our communities, our nation and our entire planet are suffering because of our fossil fuel addiction, and it is abundantly clear that immediate action must be taken. I am firm in my belief that divestment is a step in the right direction and that it is a way to express our frustration with the fossil fuel companies. It is encouraging to see many students from different clubs gathering signatures to put divestment on the ballot, and I urge such environmentally-committed students, along with the administration, to continue giving other green initiatives more attention and support. Divestment alone is not enough, but when combined with other methods it can be a useful tool in the fight against climate change.
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