Dive Brief:
- Occidental College has sworn off investments in companies that produce military-style assault weapons and high-capacity ammunition magazines for sale to the public.
- The decision was made by trustees at the behest of faculty members, and is hailed by activists as the first of its kind for an American college or university.
- The college did not have any current investments in companies that manufacture such firearms or accessories, and the vote ensures that future investments will stray from them, as well.
Dive Insight:
This move isn't entirely surprising and was demanded by faculty due to mass shootings at schools, particularly the Sandy Hook massacre in December 2012. While that shooting occurred at an elementary school, an increasing number of mass shootings at all levels of education is what trustees Chairman Christopher Calkins says ultimately moved the board to vote against the investments.
Occidental may be the first to make such a pledge, but it likely won't be the last.