Dear Chancellor Wrighton and the Washington University in St. Louis Board of Trustees,

We write this letter as alumni of Washington University in St. Louis, all of whom have benefited from the University’s brilliant professors and students, as well as the advantages a degree from a prestigious university provides.

Though we recognize these advantages, many of us today choose not to support our alma mater – financially or otherwise – because we do not feel that the University’s behavior upholds the promise in its mission statement to “enhance the lives and livelihoods of students, the people of the greater St. Louis community, the country and the world.” We argue, however, that the University enhances the lives and livelihoods of some WUSTL students and administrators at the expense of the greater St. Louis community, the country, and the world.

We understand that, historically, WUSTL has prioritized becoming a top-ranked university. This is reflected in its financial activities, such as prioritizing merit-based (rather than need-based) scholarships to recruit top-ranked students, building luxurious dormitories and academic buildings, forming profitable partnerships with industry, and growing its endowment without any consideration for socially responsible investing. Now that the school consistently ranks among the top 20 universities, WUSTL must embrace the responsibility and opportunity that come with its prestige. Not only is it possible for the university to prosper while making socially responsible investments and committing to socioeconomic diversity, but these actions are in fact necessary for WUSTL to remain competitive with its peer institutions. WUSTL faces a choice: it can maintain ties to industries that profit from oppression and environmental destruction, or it can earn a reputation as an institution dedicated to the creation of knowledge, the affirmation of truth, and the empowerment of people creating positive change.

Current social and environmental crises pose clear and urgent threats to the lives and communities that WUSTL claims it is committed to improving. But by receiving aid from and directly supporting corporations who promote misinformation and obscure the truth, by taking inadequate measures to combat financial inequality, and by not taking steps to create a safe campus for every student, WUSTL is in direct conflict with its mission.

The university must now hold itself accountable to the values it claims to hold. We, as alumni, will not support the university until it takes positive action to align its impact with its mission. We therefore pledge to withhold any financial contributions until WUSTL takes the following steps to uphold its mission statement:

Increase access and support to middle and low income students.

Given that:

We demand that WUSTL:

Increase the percentage of students from the bottom 60% of the income scale to at least 20%, making it a leader among peer institutions.

Ensure that students from the bottom 60% are graduating at the same rate as the rest of the student population. Through the Office of Student Success, consult directly with low-income students and student groups in qualitative interviews to discuss what resources are needed at WUSTL, and develop corresponding programs.

Increase the percent of Pell-eligible students to 20% by 2025, with the ultimate goal of enrolling a student body that reflects the demographics of college applicants nationwide.

Reform the admissions process to be “need-blind” and guarantee to meet full demonstrated need.

Decrease the average student debt at graduation to $10,000, making WUSTL a leader among peer institutions .

Release annual data on the distribution of students’ household incomes, financial aid packages provided, the median amount of student debt accrued, and graduation rates according to socioeconomic status.

Divest from the top 200 fossil fuel companies and discontinue the Clean Coal Consortium.

Given that:

We demand that WUSTL:

Divest its endowment from the 200 largest fossil fuel companies .

Discontinue the Clean Coal Consortium.

Focus its energy research on realistic and sustainable alternatives to fossil fuels.

Hire a new Chief Investment Officer experienced in socially responsible investments to manage its endowment.

Increase its transparency and accountability by annually releasing its endowment’s investment portfolio.

Divest from the private prison industry.

Given that:

We demand that WUSTL:

Publicly divest any shares from CCA and GEO Group and adopt a permanent negative screen to prevent any further investment in these or other private prison contractors.

Hire a new Chief Investment Officer who is experienced in socially responsible investments to manage its endowment.

Increase the endowment’s transparency and accountability by annually releasing its investment portfolio.

Declare itself a sanctuary campus.

Given that:

The Pew Research Center estimates that there are between 200,000 and 225,000 undocumented immigrants enrolled in college.

WUSTL released a statement saying that, “Washington University supports the principles outlined in DACA and will be monitoring this issue very carefully. No matter what changes may be proposed, we will not waver from our core values of inclusion, diversity and equity on behalf of all of our students.”

Studies show that undocumented students face much higher anxiety levels due to the isolation and fear of deportation, as well as lack of trust of officials on campus.

Recent executive actions signal the intent of the current administration to increase deportations and immigration restrictions based on nationality , even for immigrants with legal status, heightening the sense of uncertainty and fear undocumented students may experience.

9 U.S. colleges, including Wesleyan University, Connecticut College, and the University of Pennsylvania, have already declared themselves Sanctuary Campuses.

In November of 2016, students rallied to demand that WUSTL become a Sanctuary Campus.

We demand that WUSTL:

Declare itself a sanctuary campus by publicly committing to:

Prohibit Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers onto campus without a warrant.



Prohibit campus police from enforcing immigration law.



Refuse to share students’ immigration statuses with ICE, nor gather information on immigration or citizenship status from students.



Provide students with confidential immigration legal support.



Make efforts to provide distance-learning options for students who have been deported.

We believe in the values and mission that WUSTL purports to hold. It is this belief, along with our investment and pride in the WUSTL community, that drives us to ask more of our alma mater. Each of us has a personal stake in maintaining the livability of our planet and challenging systems of oppression. Oppressive and unsustainable systems hold us back from our full individual and societal potential. We commit to act within our own communities to work towards a more equitable and just future. We urge WUSTL to reconcile its actions with its stated values in pursuit of this goal.

We appreciate your time and consideration, as well as the University’s interest in maintaining positive relations with its alumni.

In solidarity,