Published by the MIT News Office at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Mass.
Published by the MIT News Office at the Massachusetts Institute of
Technology, Cambridge, Mass.
MIT POSITION Continued Sanctions Urged Against Soutn Africa By Robert C. Di Iorio News Office The Executive Committee of The Corporation of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology issued a public statement last week calling for continuing economic sanctions against South Africa in order to maintain international pressures and incentives for constructive change. In its statement, the committee asserted its belief that governmentally approved sanctions against South Africa are effective and appropriate. The committee statement said MIT would continue to invest in US companies with operations in South Africa, provided the companies have signed the Statement of Principles and are making significant progress in implementing them. The statement was issued following the Executive Committee's May 3 meeting and was the result of extensive review and discussion by the committee over a number of weeks. Information submitted by many members of the MIT community was considered. MIT President Charles M. Vest, who chairs the Executive Committee, has sent letters containing the statement to Secretary of State James Baker, National Security Adviser Brent Scowcroft and the Massachusetts Congressional Delegation. "It is particularly important at this critical time in South Africa's struggle that international economic sanctions continue to be applied," President Vest said. Constantine B. Simonides, MIT vice president and secretary of the MIT Corporation, said the Executive Committee, in addition to its statement, asked President Vest to ensure that MIT's initiatives for enhancing educational opportunities for black South Africans are strengthened and receive adequate support. Under those programs, one student currently is studying for the PhD in economics and another soon will be enrolled in the Department of Urban Studies and Planning. MIT is providing substantial tuition assistance for both students. President Vest has asked Professor Frank E. Perkins, dean of the Graduate School, to coordinate MIT's efforts in these programs. The text of the statement follows: "The Executive Committee of The Corporation of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology recognizes the constructive role of international economic sanctions in the process of political and economic reform in South Africa. The objective of these sanctions is to abolish apartheid and to establish a representative government, and the Committee calls for their continuation. "The Executive Committee also recognizes the value of the MIT initiatives that enhance educational opportunities for black South Africans studying at MIT, of financial assistance to black students in South Africa, of scholarly exchanges between faculty, and of teaching and research programs on matters that will aid development in post- apartheid South Africa. "The Committee continues to support MIT's policy of selective investment in US companies with operations in South Africa, provided these companies are signatories to the Statement of Principles and are making significant progress in the implementation of those Principles. MIT will continue to adhere to its policy of divesting its holdings in US companies with operations in South Africa whose conduct does not meet the criteria established by the Principles. MIT's portfolio will continue to be substantively reviewed for adherence to this policy." Since December, members of the Executive Committee have received background information on the evolving situation in South Africa from members of the MIT community, including the Coalition Against Apartheid (CAA), which has been urging MIT to divest its stock holdings in any company doing business in South Africa. Members of the CAA met on April 4 with all seven of the external members of the Executive Committee plus Mr. Simonides and Glenn P. Strehle, MIT vice president and treasurer, who is a member ex officio. Mr. Simonides said he had been informed by the CAA that 1,600 copies of a letter had been signed by MIT community members urging the Executive Committee to order divestment and to issue a public statement supporting economic sanctions. The evening before the April 4 meeting about 100 people gathered for a CAA candlelight vigil outside the President's House to urge the university to divest. President Vest spoke briefly to those assembled outside the house. "While we may not agree (on the divestment question) we share with you an abhorrence of apartheid," he said. He also told the CAA members that he "appreciated the nature of the discourse" of the recent months.