In tug-of-war fashion, university administration and student group Fossil Free SCU continue to disagree publicly on the topic of complete divestment of funds contained in the $850 million endowment from the fossil fuel extraction industry.

Tempers flared as students debated the controversial issue of Santa Clara’s investments in fossil fuel extraction companies on Tuesday.

Fossil Free SCU, a campus organization encouraging administrators to divest university funds from fossil fuel-producing companies, re-launched its petition on Feb. 13.

Last month, a panel of four individuals presented their professional views on the divestment debate at a discussion hosted by the Markkula Center for Applied Ethics.

Throughout the nation, Santa Clara is recognized as a pioneer in advocating for sustainable practices, yet the institution remains invested in energy companies whose pollutants are a substantial cause of global warming.