Even though myriad contributors often play a role in getting a college or university to divest from fossil fuels, “one group is seldom credited as the catalyst: student activists,” writes Emma Whitford for Insider Higher Ed.
“Many institutions give a nod to activists without elaborating on their efforts. … But in other cases, students get no thanks at all,” adds Whitford.
“Some leaders are sensitive to not wanting it to appear like this issue was brought to them by students and faculty and that leadership didn’t have their eye on these issues long term,” TVP Communications’ Erin Hennessy said in Whitford’s story. “So they say, ‘Oh, well, we’ve been following this issue, and we’ve been making these changes gradually over time.’ And they leave out the role of activists among their students, faculty and alumni.”
Read Whitford’s full story here.