Student activists criticized the university’s failure to meet sustainability goals
Two members of climate action organization Divest MTA interrupted the Mt.A Board of Regents meeting on Friday, Nov. 14 to “inject a student voice with a climate-justice focus,” according to Divest member Robert Zirpolo. During the morning meeting in the Windsor Grand Room, where questions were not permitted, Zirpolo and fellow Divest member Andrew Knickle critiqued the university for its alleged failure to commit to concrete sustainability plans and its silence on environmental issues. “Our goal was to get them to know Divest exists as a representation of student-led climate justice,” said Zirpolo, adding “this is for the campus, not just for our own personal views.”
In an emailed statement to The Argosy, Mt.A President Ian Sutherland said “Mount Allison values open dialogue and community engagement,” and “the Board heard the concerns shared by students.”
The Board of Regents, which “is responsible for the management and control of Mount Allison’s business and affairs,” according to the Mt.A website, holds an open meeting once per year in the Windsor Grand Room. Members of the Board include Sutherland as well as MASU President Wilson Paluch and MASU VP Academic Kassandra Vail, who were both appointed to the Board by the Students’ Administrative Council. In an email to Mt.A staff and students, Robert Inglis, Mt.A’s Vice-President of Finance and Secretary to the Board of Regents, said the meeting would not be “town-hall-style,” and attendees would not have a chance to speak or ask questions. Recording was also not permitted.
Five members of Divest filled the first row of chairs for attendees. As the meeting started at 9 a.m., each member simultaneously removed their coats to reveal matching white t-shirts with permanent marker slogans, including “DIVEST,” “say no to fossil fuel extraction,” and “our lives > profit margins.”
The group sat silently through Sutherland’s presentation of the university’s new Strategic Plan, subtitled “Broad minds. Bold Futures. Lifelong Connections.” Around 9:35 a.m., while the Board was asking questions following Sutherland’s presentation, Zirpolo and Knickle interrupted the discussion, asking about Mt.A’s goals for environmental sustainability.
“Someone said something about it being very student-led, and I believe that set Andrew off to stand up and refute that,” said Zirpolo. The two activists told the Board that the strategic plan did not take students’ voices into account, and called the university’s actions “disgusting.” The other three members dropped pamphlets near the entrance to the Grand Room and recorded the impromptu speeches. During what Zirpolo said “could be categorized as a rant,” the two activists brought up several different issues, including the impact of rising tides on the Chignecto Isthmus. “We’re gonna be flooded, and you guys won’t care cause you’ll have made your money, cause you’re just on the Board of Regents,” said Zirpolo. Knickle also mentioned NB Power’s proposed Tantramar gas plant, saying, “Tantramar is going to feel the effects of the gas plant, and it really doesn’t seem like anybody actually cares.”
In his statement, Sutherland said the Strategic Plan will include “a clear commitment to sustainability and strategic actions focused on reducing environmental footprint and creating a campus plan for net-zero operations.”
The MASU declined to comment on the interruption.
“Senior Administration has since offered to meet directly with Divest MTA to continue the discussion,” Sutherland said in his statement. “Student engagement is an important part of our decision-making and campus culture.”
Zirpolo says actions like these serve as examples for students who may support the organization, but are “not comfortable” with what Zirpolo called “actual activism.” “When I get up, and I’m speaking to the President directly, in a way that’s breaking the rules, that shows that students can actually get involved if they want to,” he says. “It doesn’t actually have to be sanctioned by the University. Students can have their voices heard if they’re willing to.”