The University's Exploratory Committee on Fossil Fuel Divestment, which was established in October 2013 in order to assess whether or not the University should divest and how it would go about doing so, is continuing to work toward a way for Brandeis to divest from fossil fuels According to Michael Abrams '15, a student representative on the committee, the committee is currently looking at a period of three to five years during which the University would gradually move its portfolio away from fossil fuel corporations.

The committee is comprised of students, faculty and administrators. Based off its analysis, the committee is expected to put together a proposal to present to the faculty and the Board of Trustees including its recommendations. A timeline has not yet been released.

In April 2013, Students for a Just and Stable Future partnered with Brandeis Democrats and Students for Environmental Action to put divestment on the ballot for a vote by the student body. Students were given the opportunity to decide whether or not they thought the University should divest from fossil fuel corporations and instead invest in other, more "green" stocks for its endowment portfolio. The student body passed the motion with 79 percent of voters in favor of divestment, a total of 897 votes.

Divestment is a "gradual process," Abrams said. "It takes time to find suitable replacements for the fossil fuel stocks."
The chair of the committee and Dean of Student Financial Services, Peter Giumette noted in an email he wrote to the Justice that "there are a wide range of opinions as to that best course, and I am glad that we have a broad and well informed group considering these important issues."

Senior Vice President of Students and Enrollment Andrew Flagel wrote in an email to the Justice that the committee is continuing to work to make sure that its eventual proposal will "honor our social justice values and be representative of our diverse student and community views" and limit the "costs to Brandeis students."

-Kathryn Brody