Whether or not you think colleges can — or should — make political statements with their investments, much good can come from the efforts of students to get Bowdoin College to divest from fossil fuels.

The concept of “ethical investing” is a little dubious on its face. And it’s fairly murky what “divesting from fossil fuels” means. Does it mean pulling out of BP? Airlines? Any company that moves freight, makes electricity or creates plastics?

A narrow approach more fully controlled by the college community may be a better first step to the important goal of limiting fossil fuel use. For example, perhaps students can propose an alternative to the school’s use of heating oil — something closer to home, tangible and measurable.

Their efforts should be applauded, and the work is just beginning. Even college President Barry Mills said “never say never.”