2008 Woodie Awards
Students petition for transparent investment of endowment fund
Emily Passey
Issue date: 10/21/05 Section: News
The Students for Leftist Action of Lawrence University gathered signatures in Downer last week for a petition to present to the administration. The petition calls for Lawrence to practice transparent investment of the school's endowment fund. Currently, the plan for investment is available for all students to see, but it does not detail exactly where money is being invested.
SLA vice president Ben Pauli does not think that is good enough. A senior, Pauli became interested in what he calls "the power" of the endowment fund when he decided that SLA had the ability to unite and make an impact on all students. He recognized that the money from the endowment affected and was affected by student life and understood a need for openness. "In the spirit of Lawrence's mission statement, openness is stressed," Pauli says. At other schools, Pauli emphasizes, there are student groups that participate in the investment of school money.
SLA took up this matter last year, devoting time to researching every angle of the investment practices at Lawrence. Pauli and other members of the student group discovered that Lawrence may inadvertently be investing in corporate criminals. Even though they had meetings and discussions with Lawrence representatives, Pauli found the response to be "minimal."
SLA is taking a diplomatic approach. Pauli says that their goal is to get at least 50 percent of the student body to sign the petition, showing widespread support of the group's ideas. According to Pauli, even Jon Horne, president of the College Republicans, agrees that student involvement in university investment practices would be interesting. After the signatures are counted, SLA will put together a resolution to present to LUCC regarding the formation of a student group to be involved in investment.
Lawrence Executive Vice President Greg Volk responds to the student petition saying that it is "hard to comment" until he knows exactly what their endeavor is. While he agrees that it is important for all members of the Lawrence community to actively participate and understand all aspects, Volk believes in a little discretion.
SLA vice president Ben Pauli does not think that is good enough. A senior, Pauli became interested in what he calls "the power" of the endowment fund when he decided that SLA had the ability to unite and make an impact on all students. He recognized that the money from the endowment affected and was affected by student life and understood a need for openness. "In the spirit of Lawrence's mission statement, openness is stressed," Pauli says. At other schools, Pauli emphasizes, there are student groups that participate in the investment of school money.
SLA took up this matter last year, devoting time to researching every angle of the investment practices at Lawrence. Pauli and other members of the student group discovered that Lawrence may inadvertently be investing in corporate criminals. Even though they had meetings and discussions with Lawrence representatives, Pauli found the response to be "minimal."
SLA is taking a diplomatic approach. Pauli says that their goal is to get at least 50 percent of the student body to sign the petition, showing widespread support of the group's ideas. According to Pauli, even Jon Horne, president of the College Republicans, agrees that student involvement in university investment practices would be interesting. After the signatures are counted, SLA will put together a resolution to present to LUCC regarding the formation of a student group to be involved in investment.
Lawrence Executive Vice President Greg Volk responds to the student petition saying that it is "hard to comment" until he knows exactly what their endeavor is. While he agrees that it is important for all members of the Lawrence community to actively participate and understand all aspects, Volk believes in a little discretion.