all praise to Harvard's students who fought back

[donsu]

http://www.boston.com/news/globe/editorial_opinion/oped/articles/2005/04/06/who_says_student_activism_is_dead/


Who says student activism is dead?


-snip-

On Monday, Harvard announced that despite the ''strong presumption against divestment for reasons unrelated to investment purposes" it would take the rare step to divest itself on moral grounds of the $4.4 million worth of shares it held in PetroChina. Citing a recent report to the British Parliament that estimates the death toll in the Darfur region of Sudan to be at least 300,000, the Harvard Corporation stated that its decision reflected deep concerns about the extensive role of PetroChina's closely affiliated parent company, China National Petroleum Corporation, as a leading partner of the Sudanese government in the production of oil in Sudan.

The report of the Advisory Committee on Shareholder Responsibility noted that ''oil production is widely understood to be a crucial source of revenue for the Sudanese government, essential to the government's capacity to fund military operations, and an asset of exceptional strategic importance to the regime."

-snip-

It is appropriate that the Ivy League institution and its president, Lawrence Summers, should now bask in the positive publicity for having taken such a responsible role; indeed, one that sets an example for universities around the country. However, the real praise rightly belongs to those idealistic twentysomethings who dared to believe that they could persuade Harvard to take this step. Their campaign to take on the impenetrable Harvard Corporation began last year, and they have shown themselves to be the true leaders.

Slowly but surely, the students built up a coalition that could not be ignored. A combination of tactics -- carefully researched memos to the board, persistent lobbying, behind-the-scenes assistance from faculty, and traditional visible activism -- culminated with a protest Monday morning. Hundreds of students dressed in black, carrying the symbolic green signs for Darfur marched silently to the site of the corporation's meeting. When the announcement to divest was made, a student gospel choir broke into song.
-snip-
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don't you just love these young people

[EFerrari]

1. Excellent! They're great!

We did the same at Cal when God was a boy, lol, and eventually the Regents had to divest themselves from their holdings in South Africa.

You know, these kids barely have time to eat and sleep, let alone march. Good for them.

[prodigal_green]

3. yep, divesting funds from South Africa was big on my campus

in the 1980s.

Too bad economic pressure and sanctions didn't work in that country. Will Nelson Mandela ever be freed?

[Kerrytravelers]

2. I am so proud. We need more of this going on.