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About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (May 28, 1985)
editorial Apartheid protests will continue to grow The 1984-85 school year began with pronouncements that America had changed. In the words of Newsweek magazine, “A new conservatism has taken over college cam puses. ” All around the country, newspapers reported that the era of student activism was over. The "landslide” re election of President Ronald Reagan seemed to put the icing on the cake. According to the Oregon Commentator, “ liberal activism is all a part of Woodstock history." Right-wing publications had scarcely finished praising the "new campus conservatism" when a sudden wave of student protests began. The demonstrations were centered on events in South Africa. Between November and March, more than 300 blacks were killed by South African police during anti-apartheid protests. As more violence erupted in South Africa. Nobel Peace Prize recipient Bishop Desmond Tutu and other pro minent South African black leaders called on the United States to cut economic and military ties with the apartheid government. On March 16, the South African police opened fire on a crowd of unarmed black protesters in the town of Uitenhage. Nineteen blacks were killed and dozens more wounded. It was the 25th anniversary of the famous Sharp ville massacre, in which 69 unarmed blacks were gunned down by South African troops, and blacks had gathered in Uitenhage to commemorate the day. Reagan responded to the “unfortunate" incident in Uitenhage by saying that the South African government "had to maintain law and order.” For many American university students, Reagan's state ment on the Uitenhege killings was the final straw. Students began to stage massive acts of civil disobedience, protesting apartheid and U.S. cooperation with South Africa. At Cor nell University, police were called in to break up a student sit-in at an administration building; 1,200 people were ar rested. At the University of California at Berkeley, student protests against Reagan’s policy of constructive engagement with South Africa led to 400 arrests. The list goes on. In every region of the country, student opposition to U.S. economic and military cooperation with the South African government has led to large demonstrations. Since March, more than 4,000 students have been arrested at universities thoughout the nation. What do these protests mean? Critics have been quick to label the recent wave of anti-apartheid demonstrations as nothing more than the "latest college fashion,” and a case of “spring fever.” The protests are neither. What America is witnessing in the current wave of demonstrations is the sur facing of sentiments that have been building in this country for several years. Since the 1976 student uprising in Soweto, South Africa, university students in America have watched events in that country more closely. The same year that black stu dent leader Steven Biko died during police interrogation in a South African prison, the ASUO filed a petition with the State Board of Higher Education to divest all stocks from companies doing business in South Africa. Students at other universities filed similar petitions. In the process, many students made the jump from passive observers to active par ticipants in the struggle against apartheid. For nearly a decade, university students in the United States followed a path of teach-ins, letter-writing campaigns and petitions, all geared towards pressuring the U.S. government to cut economic and military ties with South Africa. According to the Chronicle of Higher Education, despite student demands for divestment over the years, “the overwhelming majority of U.S. colleges and universities have taken no steps to get rid of their South African holdings.” Civil disobedience in the name of divestment was not the first choice by students in the anti-apartheid movement; it was the last resort. It was only after student demands for divestment were repeatedly ignored by univer sity governing boards that students adopted the tactics of civil disobedience to make their voices heard. The current wave of anti-apartheid demonstrations is not an example of “spring feverf” It is an example of a strong student movement that has been maturing for nearly a decade. It is a movement that will continue as long as the U.S. government continues to give economic and military support to a nation that denies 22 million people the right to vote just because they were born with black skin. Such a na tion is South Africa. Page 2 letters Divest now! Divestment is an important opportunity for Oregon to resist involvement in the apartheid system of black oppression. In South Africa, 4 million whites enslave 22 million blacks and "non-whites'" {75 percent of the people), denying, them basic human and civil rights including the right to vote and to own property. While Reagan's administra tion refers to the government of South Africa as our friends, many states and cities have refused to participate in this friendship with the brutal government of South Africa. The Governor of Massachusetts. Michael Dukakis, said. "It has been our experience that divestiture makes not only a strong moral statement against apartheid but has had no significant impact on our pen sion earnings. Careful divestiture can result in net in creases in earnings." ' . 'Mi ■ ' The current policy of invest ment and the “Sullivan Prin ciples" are intended to ensure U S. corporations participate in improving employment condi tions for blacks. Unfortunately, this cannot correct the broader social inequities of apartheid because U.S. corporations employ less than 1 percent of South Africa's workforce. Sad ly. our financial involvement directly supports the surveillance and control of the black population. Divesting Oregon's public ’ monies is necessary to end our support of the racist South African government. Because * those who are oppressed in South Africa have . no legal means to effect change in their society, the divestment trend is a meaningful message, Divesting is not breaking new ' ground, but acknowledging that continued participation with apartheid cannot be justified. Rebecca Roby Eugene Free South Africa Tense situation It has been several weeks since our government, with virtually no international support, im-. posed sn embargo on the people of Nicaragua. This bullying act provokes the already tense situation caused by the perma nent presence of 2,000 U.S. troops in Honduras, a U.S. naval task force stationed off the Nicaraguan coast, and CIA trained contras who terrorize civilians along Nicaragua's border. The Sandinistas overthrew the dictatorship of Somoza in 1979, after 30 years of papular struggle. In addition to paying Somoza's debts and rebuilding from the destruction of an earth quake and civil war, programs were instituted to provide literacy, health care, and land for the disenfranchised poor. This is now threatened by the economic and covert military aggression our government is waging against Nicaragua. The U.S. has forced the Inter American Development Bank to deny Nicaragua critically need-, ed loans{shades of'Chile). It has mined Nicaragua'* harbor*.' It has Haunted international'law by disregarding the authorityof ' the' World Court. . Nicaragua hail repeatedly stated, its readiness to sigh and , abide by the Coptradora. Peace proposal. Our government has blocked signing of this proposal and has unilaterally ceased in- ° direct talks with Nicaragua. I believe that' we have thus far delayed the direct invasion of Nicaragua by U.S. military forces through our self education, the. education of neighbors and colleagues, and vocal opposition to the- In-' terventionist policies of the Reagan administration. We need to redouble these efforts now. to prevent a tragic ‘slide, towards open regional war in Ontrai America Aguan Wei Biology Please return To the person who mistaken ly lifted my green backpack off of Ihe rack at the bookstore Wednesday at 1:25 p m. Could you please at least place my class notes in: a paper bag and turn them in at the bookstore? I figure counting the books, the pack, and my tape recorder, your're still getting away with at least 100 bucks. I need the notes for my finals! Thank you. Stan Talbott Slightly pissed off Oregon doily emerald The Oregon Dally Emerald la published Monday through Friday except during exam week and vacations by the Oregon Daily Emerald Publishing Co., at the University of Oregon, Eugene, Oregon, 97403 The Emerald operates Independently of the Universi ty with offices on the third floor of the Erb Memorial Union and Is a member of the Associated Press General Staff Advertising Director Susan Thelen Production Manager Russell Steele Classified Advertising Vince Adams Controller Jean Ownbey Advertising Sales: Laura Buckley, Tim Clevenger, Jen nifer Fox, Michael Gray • Intern, Robin Joannldes • Intern, Carlos Lam ad rid - Intern, Marcia Leonard, Rick Mart*, Nancy Nielsen, Brett Plckman, Laura Willoughby • Intern, David Wood. Production: Kelly Cornyn, Storml Dykes, Manuel Flores, Kathy Gallagher, Dean Guernsey, Jackson Haring, Susan Hawkins, Kirk Hlrota, Grant Keltner, Rob Kraft, Ross Mar tin, Karin McKercher, Laurl Neely, Kelly Neff, Kara Oberst. Curt Penrod, Michele Ross, Alyson Simmons, Peg Solonlka, Karen Stallwood, Colleen Tremaine, Hank Tro’ ter, Mary VanCura. Editor Managing Editor News Editor Editorial Page Editor Sports Editor Sidelines Editor Friday Edition Editor Entertalnmant Editor Night Editor Mlcheta Matassa Mika Sims Michael Kulaga Costas Christ. Dava Barns Brant Da La Pa/ Sheila Landry Kim Carlson Michael Duncan Michele Matassa Associate Editors Administration Higher Education PoTltica ASUO Student Activities Community Features Jolayne Houtz Scott McFetridge Paul Ertelt Mary Llchtenwalner Diana Elliott Cynthia Whitfield Lori Stelnhauer Reporters Sean Axmaker, Kirsten Bolin, Michelle Brence, Robert Colllas, Julie Freeman, Thomaa Henderson, Robin Joannldea, Allan Lazo, Adam Worcester, Photographers. Dean Guernsey, Kirk Hlrota, Jim Marks, Ross Martin, Karen Statlwood, Hank Trotter News and Editorial 6*6 6611 Display Advertising and Business 666-3712 Classified Advertising 6464343 Production 666-4361 Circulation 666-6611 Tnnttflnv Mav 2H. 1985
