History+of+activism+surrounding+the+Tufts+Endowment

Activism concerning the Tufts endowment** has occurred with increasing frequency and intensity at Tufts since the divestment from apartheid South Africa campaign of the 1980s. Most activity surrounding the endowment in the 1980s and 1990s at Tufts concerned one individual investment target. However, in the 2000s, increased scrutiny and questions surrounding the lack of transparency and oversight towards the now $1 billlion+ endowment emerged with increasing frequency as part of the larger emerging Socially Responsible Investing (SRI) movement nationwide.
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=Recent history=

A number of events have led to increased attention towards endowment policy at Tufts University. These include the 2006-2007 student movement which led to the formation of the ACSR, the formation of STIR as a pro-ACSR lobbying organization in 2008 following a year of deteriorating relations between the ACSR and the Board of Trustees, the community reaction over the loss of $20 million of the endowment in the Bernie Madoff scandal, the loss of over 25% of the endowment in the ongoing financial crisis, and the emergence of external supporting organizations including TPAN (the Tufts Progressive Alumni Network), the Responsible Endowments Coalition, and the Sustainable Endowments Institute.

=Timeline=

1980s: divestment from South Africa campaign 1994: Tufts students occupy Ballou Hall in protest against the administration's refusal to divest from Hydro Quebec 2000: Concerned students gain access to information about the direct holdings 2007: Formation of the ACSR (Advisory Commitee on Shareholder Responsibility) 2008: Formation of STIR (Students at Tufts for Investment Responsibility)

=See also=

80s The ACSR STIR

External Links [|The Responsible Endowments Coalition]