A Harvard Education - the Benefits are Lost on Some

[The Minsky Moment]

http://bostonherald.com/business/business_markets/2014/04/harvard_students_protest_call_for_fossil_fuel_divestment

Students blockading the university President's office in effort to force the endowment fund to divest from oil company stocks.

Exactly how selling stock in fossil fuel companies is supposed to alter the worldwide energy mix is not explained.  Perhaps it is too complicated to put on a placard.
The Divestment Campaign website also doesn't explain however.  Instead it advances two contradictory purposes: (1) to "rebrand" the fossil fuel companies as "social pariahs" and (2) to protect the endowment funds from inevitable losses that will result from investing funds in such miscreants.   

[DGuller]

Well, if they're successful on point 1, wouldn't point 2 follow?

[crazy canuck]

Does the President of the University direct the investments of the endowment fund?

[The Minsky Moment]

Does the President of the University direct the investments of the endowment fund?

Don't distract with us with such petty details.

[Zanza]

Well, if they're successful on point 1, wouldn't point 2 follow?

Doubtful. Does the stock price of a company depend much on its status as social pariah among elite students?

[crazy canuck]

Well, if they're successful on point 1, wouldn't point 2 follow?

Doubtful. Does the stock price of a company depend much on its status as social pariah among elite students?

It might.  But the article doesnt tell us what the elite students think.

[Norgy]

http://bostonherald.com/business/business_markets/2014/04/harvard_students_protest_call_for_fossil_fuel_divestment

Students blockading the university President's office in effort to force the endowment fund to divest from oil company stocks.

Exactly how selling stock in fossil fuel companies is supposed to alter the worldwide energy mix is not explained.  Perhaps it is too complicated to put on a placard.
The Divestment Campaign website also doesn't explain however.  Instead it advances two contradictory purposes: (1) to "rebrand" the fossil fuel companies as "social pariahs" and (2) to protect the endowment funds from inevitable losses that will result from investing funds in such miscreants.   

They're a couple of decades early, I think.
Although renewables grow and fast, so do coal, gas and oil. The notion may be good, but the execution is in the silly column.

[Grey Fox]

Universities can invest on the stock market?

[derspiess]

They should invest in more green jobs.

[crazy canuck]

Universities can invest on the stock market?

Where would you have an endowment fund invest its funds so that it can give out endowments?

[Norgy]

They should invest in more green jobs.

Only so many people are needed to run these.

[Grey Fox]

Universities can invest on the stock market?

Where would you have an endowment fund invest its funds so that it can give out endowments?

I wouldnt let them invest it in anything.

[Admiral Yi]

Universities can invest on the stock market?

University endowment funds are some of the biggest players out there.

[Valmy]

I wouldnt let them invest it in anything.

Where are they supposed to get their funding from?  Well besides raise tuition but we are already getting to absurd levels there.

[dps]

Universities can invest on the stock market?

Where would you have an endowment fund invest its funds so that it can give out endowments?

I wouldnt let them invest it in anything.

Why not?  A $1M scholarship endowment, invested responsibly, can help students for generations.  If it can't be invested, it'll be deleted in just a few years.  And besides, what's the alternative?  Have the university president bury the money in a jar in his back yard?