Indymedia York

This image was uploaded with the post "No Share In Killing": York Students Speak

This image was uploaded with the post "No Share In Killing": York Students Speak

This image was uploaded with the post Campus Campaigners Declare Ethical Success.

Students who took part in the "No Share in Killing" Day of Action are celebrating the success of their campaign following the University's agreement to create a new investment policy. Ric Lander from People & Planet said "this is exactly what we wanted: the University is not only willing to negotiate a timetable for divestment in arms dealers, they want students to be involved in a creating a new stringent ethical investment policy.

"This would not have been possible without the overwhelming support showed by students. We collected over 1000 signatures in one day - that is unprecedented for what people call an 'apathetic' campus."

A group of students at the University of York including those from the People & Planet, Amnesty International and FreeSoc societies organised a day of action against the University’s investment in the arms trade. The day also publicised the ControlArms campaign. Almost 1000 signatures from students and alumni were collected in just one day to support the adoption of an ethical investment policy for the University’s finances.

In 2005, after investigations aided by the Freedom of Information Act, it was revealed by CAAT (Campaign Against the Arms Trade) that a number of UK educational institutions had shareholdings in arms exporters. The University of York has 147,100 direct shares in BAE Systems (figures from the University of York) and 1,354,663 indirect shares (CAAT), as well as 1,350,000 indirect shares in GKN representing over £10 million pounds of investment through its pension fund. A motion was passed in the Student Union and the issue has been reported in both student papers, "Nouse" and "York Vision".