Dear Macalester Campus Community,<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In November of 2024, our Board of Trustees approved a series of institutional investments in peacemaking and conflict resolution following the thorough review of a student proposal to divest of certain assets in the college’s endowment portfolio.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I am writing today to provide an update on how these funds have been deployed so\u00a0far.\u00a0For those of you who were not at Macalester in 2024, the student proposal, a report by the Social Responsibility Committee, and the Board’s complete response can be read here<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n The commitments from our Trustees, and the status of each is described below.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 1. Encourages the enhancement of programs aimed at fostering understanding on campus about the conflict and attempts at peacemaking in the Middle East. These have included lectures, teach-ins, lunch & learn sessions, and other events designed to educate and promote dialogue. In support of these efforts, members of the Board have committed more than $50,000 in new gifts, and the college President has agreed to match this amount with college resources to create an endowed fund to support in perpetuity initiatives aimed at fostering understanding and peaceful dialogue. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Status:<\/i> The Endowed Fund for Understanding Conflict and Peacemaking in the Middle East<\/b> was created using gifts from members of the Board of Trustees and funds from the college. The endowed fund will generate $5,000 in interest annually for use. These resources are managed by the President’s office. Last spring, the college hosted a lecture on campus that was open to the public and featured Rob Malley, Yale Jackson Institute Senior Fellow and Lecturer, discussing his recent book (co-authored with Hussein Agha): Tomorrow is Yesterday: Life, Death, and the Pursuit of Peace in Israel\/Palestine.<\/i> In the 2026-2027 academic year and going forward, the President will seek input from students, faculty, and staff about potential events and speakers.<\/li>\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n 2. Will contribute up to an additional $50,000 to match student fundraising in support of non-profit organizations providing relief on the ground in areas of violent conflict. The Board asks the Macalester College Student Government to work with the Executive Director for Student Leadership and Engagement to recommend an organization to the Senior Leadership Team to which such funds could be donated and to work with the college President to support student fundraising efforts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Status:<\/i> The Restricted Fund for Relief in Areas of Violent Conflict<\/b> was created and funded with $50,000 in Board contributions, which have been put to work matching student fundraising efforts. In 2025, MCSG formed a working group to select nonprofit organizations that will be the recipient of these funds. In 2024-2025, students raised $7,869. This amount was matched by Board of Trustees contributions and a total of $15,740 was distributed among five organizations: Ghassan Abu Sittah Children\u2019s Fund, CARE\u2019s Middle East Crisis Fund, Sudan Relief Fund, Nova Ukraine, and Action Kivu. In 2025-2026, students raised $10,074.41. This amount will be matched by Board of Trustees contributions and funds will be distributed among the same five organizations.\u00a0Over two years, students have organized a variety of fundraisers, including: The Film Festival for Global Justice, Halloweekend Movie Screening, The Palestine Solidarity Sale, Humanitarian Aid Raffle, Mac for Palestine Student Art Market, and Mac for Palestine & MacShare Collaboration. There also is a fundraising link for anyone who wants to contribute: https:\/\/engage.macalester.edu\/register\/conflictrelief<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n 3. Authorizes $250,000 to be allocated from the college\u2019s unrestricted reserves to create an endowed fund that supports in perpetuity two students to participate in summer internships at peacemaking organizations such as the United Nations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n