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The demand followed UBC President Santa Ono’s declaration of a climate emergency last month after years of tireless campaigning by students in UBCC350, XR UBC, and other student-led political climate action groups.

Extinction Rebellion said the board wasn’t moving fast enough to commit itself to divestment, so launched the hunger strike. The eight students participating in the action, ranging in age from 19 to 22, occupied an area outside the Alumni Centre and in the lobby each day from 10:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. all week long. For 97 hours, their intake consisted of just water and vitamins.

On Friday, the group said they had received an assurance that the UBC board was committed to fully divestment.

“The board is clear: UBC is committed to full divestment as soon as possible, and we are taking the necessary steps to realize this now,” said a clarification posted on a university website. “The university shares and understands the community’s concerns regarding the climate crisis and that the continued operation of the fossil fuel industry is discordant with a climate safe future.”

“The climate crisis is one of the most pressing issues of our time and UBC wants to ensure that our community and the public is informed of the actions the university is taking as a leader in sustainability and climate action,” it said.