Divestment passes at UIChicago

Author: 
Dalit

Text of resolution that passed unanimously

WHERAS
, Boeing and Lockheed Martin, as the worlds two largest arms manufacturers, profit from war and increased militarization all over the world, and;
WHEREAS
, having documented serious violations of human rights and possible war crimes, both Amnesty International, and Human Rights Watch, called upon the United States government and other parties to cease the transfer or sale of arms that would likely be used in the further commission of human rights violations, and;
WHEREAS
, University of Illinois at Chicago students do not have adequate information regarding the university's investments, and should have input on where their university's dollars are being spent, and;
WHEREAS,
the corporations the university chooses to support affect our university as a whole, and;
WHEREAS
, investing in corporations that support the violation of humans rights and international laws, we, in turn, are also supporting the violation of human rights and international laws, and;
WHEREAS
, these actions represent our university and our community directly including students of families who have faced anguish from these human rights violations, and;
WHEREAS,
since there is not adequate information available to students about the university's investments, there is no way of knowing if the university has actually invested in these companies; however, there are not any records or policies that would prevent the university from investing in these corporations now or in the future, and;
WHEREAS
, the aforementioned companies and many others play a large role in these human rights violations, and;
WHEREAS
, the only way to ensure the university's fiscal neutrality is to stop investing in companies supporting and profiting from human rights violations through divestment, and;
WHEREAS
, this resolution does not aim to condemn a country, a people, or a community or to determine a political solution, but is solely aimed at ending our university's support of companies that profit from human rights violations, then;
LET IT BE RESOLVED
, a copy of this resolution shall be sent to the University of Illinois at Chicago Faculty Senate, which shall be asked to consider and support this resolution, and;
LET IT BE FURTHER RESOLVED,
that the University of Illinois at Chicago Undergraduate Student Government requests that the University of Illinois at Chicago Finance and Investment Committee of the Board of Trustees, and any other responsible bodies authorized to make investment decisions divest fully from companies profiting from human rights abuses and violations of international law including in but not limited to Palestine, Syria, China, United Kingdom, US-Mexico border, and Chicago, including

but not limited to Caterpillar, Hewlett-Packard, G4S, Lockheed Martin, Foxconn, Elbit Systems, and Boeing, in accordance to

their fiduciary responsibility, until said companies cease to enable the human rights violations identified in this resolution, and;
LET IT BE FURTHER RESOLVED
, that the University of Illinois at Chicago Undergraduate Student Government requests that the University of Illinois at Chicago Finance and Investment Committee of the Board of Trustees, and any other bodies authorized to make investment decisions refrain from making further investments in companies profiting from human rights violations; and,
LET IT BE FURTHER RESOLVED
, that the Undergraduate Student Government requests that the University of Illinois at Chicago Finance and Investment Committee of the Board of Trustees work to achieve greater transparency in the University of Illinois at Chicago's investments, by establishing a committee that will: 1.

Investigate all investments, current and prospective, for ties with corporations complicit with human rights violations based on United Nations definitions a.

If any corporations are found to be complicit, the Finance and Investment Committee of the Board of Trustees should fully divest 2.

Publish a list in their annual report listing companies the University has invested in 3.

Hold at least one student position on the committee to ensure administration-to-student transparency
LET IT BE FURTHER RESOLVED
, that the University of Illinois at Chicago Undergraduate Student Government requests information on University of Illinois at Chicago's investments be made public to ensure transparency between students and administration and their financial dealings with university funds.

President, Speaker of the Assembly, Mercedez Jones Gabriela Bedolla Sponsored by: 1

Students for Justice in Palestine

Jewish Voice for Peace Chicago

Students for the Advancement of Freedom, Equality & Human Rights

United Students Against Sweatshops

Black Student Union

Fearless Undocumented Alliance

Mexican Students de Aztlan

Pakistani Student Organization

Union for Puerto Rican Students

Political Science Student Union

Hindu Student Council

United Muslim Relief

Amnesty International

Muslim Student Association

Palestine Children's Relief Fund

Powerlifting and Body Building

MEDLife

Thaakat

Arab American Association of Engineers and Architects

Delta Epsilon Mu-Psi Fraternity

Delta Xi Phi Sorority

Hispanic Alliance for Career Enhancement

Quality Rights Chicago

Feminists United

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