University of Houston - Houstonian Yearbook (Houston, TX)

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'inn UH Will Divest By 1990 In a unanimous vote, the UH Board of Regents decided to rid itself of $6.4 million worth of Stock in firms doing business in South Africa, making UH the first university in Texas to divest. The previous policy adopted by the regents in 1985 restricted business to companies that signed the Sullivan Principles. The resolution, which calls for complete divestiture in two years, was greeted with applause from a group of activists. In the fall of 1985, the Students Association passed a resolution calling for divestment, while in the fall of 1986, a bill was passed to reject the Sullivan Principles and to divest. The bill was signed by UH President Richard Van Horn in December and presented to the Board of Regents. The spirit of the resolution is clear about business: Don’t invest in companies that do business there,” Mark Greene, of Students Against Apartheid, said. Greene said the regents have done more in six months than most universitites have done in a year. He also said this was a big step for improving minority recruitment and retention. This just shows that UH stands as a university of first class,” he said. Divestment Plan Okayed First In Texas Universities Arthur Shaw of the Free South Africa Movement said this resolution is stronger than those passed by universities in the Northeast and West. People are following UH s superconductivity work, and now the rest of the nation’s universities will follow in divestment policy,” Shaw said. University officials echoed the sentiments of the advocates, saying that it was a matter of duty.” In the region of civil rights and civil liberties, the resolution says that people should become more responsible fiscally, UH Regent Xavier Lemond said. UH Chancellor Wilbur Meier said, It s a responsible position to take. — Mark Evangelista It happened while nobody was looking. Michael Johnson, UH executive director and counsel; Debbie Hanna, chairperson. Board of Regents; and Wilbur Meier, UH Chancellor above at the divestment proceedings in June ’87. While not everybody was for divestment, activists Mark Greene, of Students Against Apartheid, and Arthur Shaw, of the Free South Africa Movement, were pleased with the Board of Regents' action. Photos by Michael Williams.

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Speaker of the Students Association senate Alfred Bennett thrusts a finger at those who feel they arc guiltless. Photo by Michael Williams. During South African Awareness Week. Board of Regents Chair Debbie Hannah was slated to speak on UH investments. Her talk was however cancelled due to a scheduling error, even though the event was well publicized in advance. The Daily Cougar reported that according to student leaders, more than JO percent of UH's investments have ties with South Afri-ca. Photo by Michael Davis. Anti-apartheid leader Randall Robinson, founder of the Free South Africa Movement, calmly urged students to get involved. Photo by Michael Williams.

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Budget Woes 20