Divest DU and Students Against Investment in Fossil Fuels (SAIFF) organized a protest on Friday, April 8, on the Carnegie Green. Their demands could be heard all around the University of Denver campus: “No more coal, no more oil, keep your carbon in the soil!”

The fossil fuel divestment campaign is a global movement that demands institutions stop investing in oil, coal and gas companies. When fossil fuels are burnt, nitrogen oxides are released into the atmosphere, which contributes to nutrient pollution in the air and water. By investing in these firms, financiers continue to fund unsustainable business strategies that will exacerbate climate change. DU is no exception, with a portion of its endowment invested in such firms.

“The University of Denver has millions and millions of dollars invested in fossil fuels, which have a massive impact on human health and the environment,” said Claire Steffek, a third-year student and president of Divest DU, during opening remarks.

“Every year, over 8 million people are dying just from fossil fuel air pollution. [It] is the leading cause of global warming, which is terrifying for our futures. [DU’s] Board of Trustees, all people from previous generations, are [the ones] making decisions for our generation, and we are the ones who have to clean up their mess,” she added.

The group marched around campus, holding signs while shouting different chants: “Hey hey! Ho-ho! Fossil fuels have got to go,” and “What do we want? Climate justice! When do we want it? Now!” among others.

“The main thing that I have against the university is that there’s a lack of transparency. [I feel that] we don’t get a say into what is going on around here,” said Ali Carrillo, a second-year student and vice-president of SAIFF.

This is not the first time students have demanded DU’s divestment. In 2016, a group of students from Divest DU made a resolution to the Undergraduate Student Government, requesting that the Board of Trustees divest entirely from fossil fuels. The Board, however, refused to divest.

“[To this day, the Board of Trustees] still refuses that resolution. When that happened [in 2016], they justified it as they did not want to take the money out of the fossil fuel industry because they didn’t want to stigmatize the fossil fuel industry,” said Carrillo. “If they divest from these industries they will be sending a message that they will no longer want to invest in those companies, portraying them as harmful,” he added.

It is not only about bringing climate justice to DU but also about feeling represented, listened to and acknowledged by the university.

“I think divestment is incredibly necessary. It would show that the school cares about climate change because a lot of other institutions have divested, like Harvard, the University of Oxford, and a lot of other schools are leaders in climate change. And I want the University of Denver to be [too]. I want to be proud to come to this school, proud of who we represent,” said Steffek.

SAIFF and Divest DU organize weekly meetings on Mondays at 6 pm. They also have a petition urging DU to divest. Visit the Divest DU and SAIFF on Instagram to learn more.