Campus News

Before winter break, a group of students submitted a document addressed to me, Oberlin’s trustees, and our senior leadership containing 14 pages of demands for institutional action. This address is in response to that document.

Students, faculty, and staff are encouraged to identify and/or develop courses, speakers, creative work, workshops, performances, and other events that address The Framing of Race, the 2016 theme of the new Think/Create/Engage series.

Building on its leading-edge commitment to responsible investing through the creation of the Impact Investment Platform (IIP), and dovetailing with Oberlin's leadership in such areas as sustainability and access, the Board of Trustees has recently approved an initial allocation of $5 million to seed the IIP over the next five years. Furthering its commitment to making the investment process more inclusive, the Board also has adopted a divestment policy that provides an avenue through which students, employees, and alumni may bring forth concerns regarding endowment portfolio holdings.

On Sunday, February 9, eight national experts on endowment and socially responsible investing will take part in a day-long examination of strategies for investing, divesting, and effecting social change through investment. The day’s discussions are free and open to all members of the campus community and the public.

We will carefully study the document the students have submitted. A more detailed response will be forthcoming after spring break. Meanwhile, some of the students’ ideas are already being implemented.