Peabody Energy Corporation, a St. Louis-based energy company with close ties to Washington University, may soon file for bankruptcy, according to a recent securities filing.

In just a few months, the CCCU’s research into the controversial field of carbon sequestration—“clean coal”—will take shape in the form of the world’s first Staged Pressurized Oxy Combustion (SPOC) system, located in Urbauer Hall.

Seven Students Against Peabody protesters have been released after being arrested at the group’s final planned protest Friday morning. The students were arrested and charged with trespassing and disturbing the peace after attempting to cross a police line blocking entrance to the Knight Center.

Even though the protests against Peabody Energy ended last week without achieving any of the protesters’ initially expressed goals, I think the sit-in was one of the best things to have happened to the school during my four years here at Washington University.

Although it fell short of its goal of 1,000 participants, Saturday’s rally on Brookings Steps—the largest to date—brought together hundreds, who reiterated their demands that the school cut ties with Peabody Energy.

As alumni, we write to express our support for the student movement demanding that Washington University break ties with Peabody Energy. Despite a dirty reputation of social injustice and scientific misrepresentation, our alma mater continues to propagate the myth of clean coal and Peabody’s CEO Greg Boyce continues to sit on the University’s board of trustees.

As the movement to divest from fossil fuels and cut ties with Peabody Energy gains popularity, the University and the board of trustees must acknowledge not only the social importance of moving away from fossil fuel, but also the tremendous potential this movement has to improve the appearance, influence and popularity of the University.

The Brookings Archway sit-in against Peabody Energy is nearly a week old, and though the protest’s organizers have had their demands rebuffed by Chancellor Mark Wrighton in a meeting Saturday morning, the sit-in doesn’t show any times of ending soon.

Dear Chancellor Wrighton (and the board of trustees): Have you been inside the new Bauer Hall? It’s pretty impressive—six stories of soaring glass-and-steel atrium, state-of-the-art classrooms and impeccable modern decor. But what am I talking about—of course you’ve been inside; you’re the ones who run this school.

Still confused about why students are camped out at Brookings Hall? StudLife put together a handy FAQ to answer your most pressing questions.