by Eric Stenzel ‘23

My name is Eric Stenzel. I’m a first-year early decision applicant here on the Hill, and I am incredibly proud to finally be a member of this community. It has been an incredible first month, and I cannot wait for what the next few years will bring.

It is because of my love for this place that I must critique some of its institutional practices.

Last Friday, Hamilton took part in the global climate strike. We spoke about many things at that rally. Some spoke regarding our fellow young people across the globe, others about our government, and many about the need to pursue equity while we move towards sustainability. We said that we live in a world of climate crisis, and we must act like it.

We also had an invitation for you: join us in acknowledging the true, dire urgency of the climate crisis by divesting the endowment fully from all companies involved in the extraction, production, or distribution of coal, oil, or natural gas on the fastest possible timeline. Join us in proactively securing our futures by reinvesting an equal or greater amount into renewable energy companies. Further, we ask you to demonstrate your commitment to sustainability by moving our carbon neutrality goal to 2030. We ask for transparency throughout these processes. Most importantly, we ask that this all come about in a public statement that declares why it is being done: to protect the futures of your students.

All of these are important, but I will focus on the endowment.

When similar requests have been made before, the response has been that the College does not take political positions on these issues. We say you already have. The College’s money is in-of-itself an endorsement of their practices.The decision to put money into fossil fuel companies enables what they do, and therefore it is partially responsible for their actions. What is more unfortunate is that Hamilton then profits off of these businesses. When we get dividends from these companies (do we? another question to be answered), we are making money off of their harmful practices.

Know thy role in this: when Hamilton invests money in a fossil fuel company, they are more able to extract the fuels that will inevitably increase global heating. Global heating, the cause of the climate crisis, will lead to destruction on a scale beyond the imagination if we do not address it. Crops will fail, hundreds of millions will be displaced, and ecosystems will be destroyed. The societal implications of food shortages and mass displacement need not be discussed. But, I digress. Hamilton then makes a profit off of these investments.

It truly does bother me to think that the institution which I love is in effect supporting the systems which cause my generation so much existential anxiety. Our lives are literally on the line in this crisis, and it is time we elevate this conversation to that level.

But there is a way to make up for this: reinvestment. We ask that Hamilton College take all the money it has had in fossil fuels over the years and put it in socially responsible renewable energy companies. This will make Hamilton a moral leader not only to its students, but to other colleges.

The crux of this issue is really quite simple. We want our institution, our home, to act on the scale required to protect its students. This school does so much to prepare us for our futures, but what is the point if that future does not exist? Part of Hamilton’s commitment to the growth of its students must be doing as much as it can to fight the climate crisis. I hope you will join us in the fight to save our planet and species.

Sincerely,

Eric