From President Randhawa: Encampment resolution and reflections

Dear WWU community, 

As I shared earlier this week, we have reached a resolution with students from the WWU Divest Apartheid Coalition. I believe the agreement reflects the good faith discussions we’ve had with our students over the past several weeks and is consistent with Western’s values and core academic mission. The resolution includes a commitment to transparency regarding university investments, a new process for consideration of requests for divestment from investments held by the University and the Foundation for WWU & Alumni, and procedures to ensure that procurement decisions are consistent with institutional values and principles. The agreement also includes provisions for ensuring University-endorsed study abroad programs are inclusive to all students regardless of their background, as well as a renewed commitment from the University to expand the work initiated by the Office of Equity, including engaging the campus community in dialogue around use of language and how various interpretations of terms can impact the university community.

As part of the agreement, encampment leaders agreed to voluntarily remove the encampment, a process which is now complete. The entire agreement can be accessed here.   

Click here to read the full message from President Randhawa.