Divestment Rosetta Stone

Divestment Rosetta Stone

By: Ian Chinich

After 6 months of investigating, talking to numerous administrative staff, and having dozens of emails go unanswered, Rutgers Against the War was able to acquire a list of mutual funds and companies where Rutgers University is investing funds. Though the endowment investment information was supposed to be readily acquirable under the public records act, Rutgers lacked a systematic approach of acquiring the information. Through cunning and guile, RAW members were able to still achieve their goal of opening up the endowment to scrutiny.

The list includes 11 prominent military contractors who are contributing to human rights violations (and often being outright murderous).

The companies of particular note are:

Boeing Co.

Caterpillar, Inc.

DYNCORP International

FMC Tech. Inc.

Forster Wheeler

General Electric

Halliburton Co.

Honeywell International Inc.

L-3 Communications Inc.

Northrop Grumman Corp.

Raytheon

It also includes Exxon Mobil Corp. which has made billions of dollars in profits as the disruption of Iraq’s oil supply led to dramatically increased oil prices.

Rutgers Against the War will use this information to conduct a divestment campaign in the mold of the anti-apartheid divestment campaigns of the 80s. If you are interested in learning more, come to a RAW meeting at 9:10 pm on Thursdays in Scott hall rm 101.