UBCO Win—Student Win!

 The University of British Columbia Okanagan votes to strengthen environmental commitments and empower students. Students at UBCO passed three resolutions related to banks and divestment at their AGM this week.

The power of coalition building in student organizing!

Students at RBC Off Campus UBCO worked alongside other student organizers on campus to bring forward an impressive package of resolutions to the Students’ Union Okanagan (SUO).
Through the Alliance for Student Empowerment, the Alliance brought forward resolutions to put the power back in the hands of the students.
Students showed up in large numbers to the AGM, determined to have their voices heard—resulting in the successful passing of several resolutions. Together, they passed three key resolutions related to the RBC Off Campus campaign and divestment, shifting more power into student hands and increasing pressure on Canada’s biggest funder of fossil fuels.

Resolution 8: SUO Businesses at the UNC
Students fund the SUO through their fees, which the SUO uses to lease UNC space to businesses. Yet despite footing the bill, students currently have no say in which businesses operate there. That needs to change. This resolution puts decision-making power directly in students’ hands by requiring all new and renewed UNC lease contracts to go to a vote at a General Meeting. Now, students can decide for themselves whether big banks deserve a place on campus—marking a major and empowering win.

Resolution 9: Solidifying Commitment to the Environment
The SUO currently has a regulation that recommends they align their finances with environmental, social, and governance investing criteria. However, regulations are easy to change, unlike bylaws, which are more permanent. Just this summer, the SUO’s RBC finance advisor suggested they reinvest in fossil fuels, despite the fact that the SUO divested years ago. We know fossil fuel investments will become worthless/stranded assets.

This resolution will codify the ESG regulation into an SUO bylaw, ensuring the SUO will actually keep its promise of being a responsible ESG investor over the long term.

Resolution 10: SUO Investments
Universities across Canada are invested in various environmentally and socially destructive corporations. Student unions have the power to positively influence the investments of universities.
This resolution requires the SUO to use its power to propose a new strategy to the British Columbia Federation of Students for influencing universities to adopt better investment criteria. The SUO will push for divestment from all weapons manufacturers, as well as all companies on the UN list of companies involved in business activities related to illegal Israeli settlements in Occupied Palestine.

More on RBC off-campus UBC Okanagan students on their Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rbcoffcampus_ubco/