University of Texas Austin - Cactus Yearbook (Austin, TX)

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AND JUSTIC FOR ALL? FINAL JUDGEMENT: Lawyer, Tom Kolkel leads mem- bers of the UT 16 into the courtroom for sentencing, Sept. 24. Pictured are Bill Kern, James Oliver, Latin American studies junior, Justin McCoy and Kathleen Kern. Whites lie! Blacks die! Set them free! Stop funding murder! Death to White Su- premacy! Signs of protest held aloft in fervent de- termination images of the 60 ' s come to mind burning draft cards, billy clubs, a solitary black student against a sea of white, the peace sign, and the American flag sewn into the seat of a pair of jeans. Upon closer examination, it is evident the year is not 1967; the date is Sep- tember 25, 1987. Several hundred students protest the school ' s involvement with companies operating in South Africa as well as the judge- ment handed down to the UT 16 . Approximately one year after their shortlived takeover of President Cunningham ' s office, the UT 16 had their day in court. The sen- sationalized trial caused much controversy es- pecially when the court handed it ' s judgement down. Judge Leslie Taylor sentenced 12 of the 16 to jail terms ranging from three to six months. The group also was instructed to pay a maximum fine of $200 and their portion of court costs. Many in the UT community said the judge had been exceedingly severe, that the group was sacrificed as an example to others. Others be- lieved the sentences were appropriate because the students should have tried more legitimate channels of expression, not violated the law. The reactions of the UT students and faculty varied. Professor Mil- licent Marcus, an Ital- ian instructor, said, As a whole, non- violent protesting is admirable. I believe in civil disobedience as a valid form of political protest. She felt the jail terms were ... exceedingly harsh and inappropriate. In disagreement, Ed Sharpe, vice-president of administration, said he does not look at it quite the same. There is nothing Gary Kanad|ian WTOng with frCC speech, ... as long as it is within the bounds of the law. Most UT students said they admired their dedication to a cause, but disagreed with their methods, primarily the lock-in. They went about it the wrong way, but they should not be forced to go to jail, Curt Croshaw, finance junior, said. He also agreed with the Unl versity ' s right to refuse divestment. On the other hand, Annette Camino jour- nalism freshman, agreed with the sentencing. Their punishment was fair it wasn ' t very. stiff, yet they also didn ' t get away with too easy a sentencing. They pretty much got what they deserved. Charles Wolford, advertising junior, said if he had lead the protest movement he would noe have taken the office hostage. I respect their idea, but I have to disagree with their meth- odology they could have protested in a different way. But the protestors themselves said they did not feel this way. Beverly Burr, Plan II senior, said when normal channels have proven in- effective, the activists start having protests, many times illegally. We need to express our- selves in a way that shows our dedication. Sentenced to five months in jail, Daniel Gohl, physics graduate student, was not at all happy with the convictions. I will go if I have to, but I ' m not sorry about what happened. I ' m willing to take my punishment, we have to abide by the laws we are trying to change. He pointed out a 1975 incident when anti-apartheid protestors also occupied the president ' s office, but received no punishment; they were given amnesty. Kathleen Kern, government senior, was also convicted to a sentence of three months. She was ... surprised at the judgement it ' s very rare to exceed the prosecution ' s recommended sentence. She said she wished President Cun- ningham ... would stand up for the students ' I view and take it to the regents. President Cunningham was unable to issue a comment since he will be held responsible for helping UT decide disciplinary measures against UT 16 and must remain non-biased. While creating controversy, the UT 16 exv perience made people examine the divestment issues and evaluate their own feelings about how far a protest should go. The UT community got a taste of conflict, for some it was simply a radically theatrical event; for others,, it was a legitimate effort to further a worthy cause. I by Theresa Framing CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE: Austin resident Stuart Graharr chants with ralliers, Sept. 27, in protest to the sentencing ol ' the UT 16 and to the University ' s investments in South Africa. 14 UT Sixteen

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Janice Jacobs RULES AND REGULATIONS: Chris Curran, marketing senior, and Laura Kauachi, business senior, look over the new rules and privileges that come with registering with the University. An orientation meeting welcomed the sororities to the University, Feb. 17. WEIGHING THE ISSUES: Christine Yura, accounting junior, discusses University registration with a concerned sorority member. MOOD MUSIC: Sigma Delta Tau members lighten up their lunch break by listening to their favorite songs. Michael Stravato Sorority Registration 13

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Demonstrations reminiscent of sixties by Theresa Froming The many protests and rallies seen at UT caused some people to open their eyes and wonder if this was unique to the university. Most students had heard about the anti- Vietnam and civil rights protests of the 60 ' s, but felt such radical activism had died out. As recent examples showed, nothing could be farther from the truth. Schools across the country saw a resurgence of noble causes and student activists. Most of the protests fo- cused on fighting in Central America and divestment from South Africa. University of California-Berkley: In the spring of 1985 and 1986, numerous protests against apartheid disrupted the cam- pus. There were over 1,000 arrests. Hamilton College: Twelve students, September 1986, participated in a sit-in for divestment. All were suspended for the fol- lowing semester. University of Wisconsin-Madison: On Saturday, Oct. 24, 1987, in the largest rally since the Vietnam protests of the 60 ' s and 70 ' s, 19 people were arrested for pro- testing planes used in Nicaragua. Cornell University: Demonstrators organized a sit-in at the University Ad- ministration building to protest the school ' s African involvement. The local police ar- rested over 1,000 protestors. Texas campuses were not exempt from these activities either. Southwest Texas State experienced intense divestment protests. The University of Houston responded to pressure from the university populus and broke eco- nomic ties with South Africa. At Texas A M University, students were arrested for passing out literature at an apart- heid march. The University of Texas at Aus- tin also felt the turmoil caused by the UT 16 movement. At many colleges, the protests evoked results. Schools such as The University of Wisconsin, Columbia, Vassar and the Uni- versity of California-Berkley responded to anti-apartheid cries and severed relations with South Africa. At countless others though, the movements marched on, fueled by vision and ideology. UT Sixteen 1 5