Investments

Letters to the Editor

Date 2/17/2000 12:00 AM | Topic: Letters to the Editor

To the Editor:



We are a group of students concerned about Luther's investment policy. We began researching what Luther's current investment policy entailed last spring. We had been inspired by and urged on at the 1999 Peace Prize Forum to look into divesting (not investing) from companies who were involved in the production of landmines.

Since starting our research, we have found there is no policy at Luther regarding socially and ethically responsible investments. Our goal is to work together with administration, faculty, staff, students, and the board of Regents in order to establish a policy.

We feel Luther, should be expected to live up to its own mission statement which states that it is dedicated to faith, learning, and service. Luther strives to prepare students to "seek the significance of learning for responsible human life, . . . to move students beyond immediate interests and present knowledge into a larger world; an education that not only disciplines minds in the pursuit of knowledge, but develops whole persons who are resilient enough to confront and evaluate the changing society," and for students "to serve with distinction for the common good."

We as students are trying to live up to Luther's mission as a college, and we are starting with the college itself. Luther claims it is a part of the "vital link between the church and the world," and we believe it is as well. In believing this statement, we feel Luther needs to take its mission into consideration when dealing with its own investments and be an institution which "unites the pursuit of learning with our vocation as responsible citizens."

Respectfully,

Jeanine Otte ('02), Alyssa Erickson ('02), John Rader ('02),

Greta Swanson ('00), and Emily Penk ('00)

Students for Socially Responsible Investments



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