CU Regents vote against divesting from fossil fuels

CU Regents met on Thursday April 16th and voted 6-3 against the formation of a committee to focus on sustainable investments and divestment possibilities. A resolution affirming fossil fuel investments, passed 7-2. Linda Shoemaker from Boulder and Irene Griego from Denver, the two Democrats on the board, voted no. Thursday’s Regents meeting happened while student supporters were at the University of Colorado Boulder occupying Norlin Quad celebrating the end to their 3-day, 2-night occupation with a civil disobedience training.

The student group Fossil Free CU had set up tents and occupied a part of the heart of the University of Colorado Boulder for the past 3 days. For two years student activists have pressured the University of Colorado to retract millions of dollars invested in the fossil fuel industry as part of a national action called Fossil Fuel Divestment. Fossil Free CU and their divestment supporters are now saying they are tired of inaction from the CU Board of Regents concerning oil and gas divestment and it’s time to intensify their action and continue a legacy of non-violent protest at the University of Colorado. Hannah Leigh Myers reports.