Newspapers / Black Ink (Black Student … / Sept. 27, 1984, edition 1 / Page 2
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Page 2 Black Ink Sept. 27. 1984 IN "UMC ANDiouTHRWW PERSPECTIVE by Albertina Smith Editor There is a mentality - a mentality whose essence is ever present in a cer tain segment of our world. This mentality is so undaunting that it allows 25.2% of South Africia's black children die from improper medical and nutritional care. This mentality mandates the arrest and prosecution of over 8 million peo ple who fight for the freedom to work, to vote, and to realize dreams of educa tional achievement that we al take for granted. This mentality condones the systematic political and economic rape of the black masses in a country that is over 85% black. This mentality is called APARTHEID. On Monday, Sept. 17, the Black Student Movement held a news con ference in which Sherrod Banks, a senior political science major the BSM President, presented the organization's official position concerning South Africa. We, the BSM Central Committee, and the Black Greek Council recognize that apar'. heid is first, immoral and secondly, inconsistent with fun damental American Democratic principles and with UNC's equal opportunity policies for educatic i.. .This university states in the Undergraduate Bulletin that UNC is committed to the principles of equal opportunity, ft is the policy of this university not to discriminate on the basis of race, sex, color, national origin, religion, or handicap with regard to it's students, employees, or ap plicants. However, in South Africa, education, is separate and unequal...Because UNC supports a system which allows such facts to be realized the Black Stu dent Movement calls for the divestment of student funds from the Board of Trustees Endowment Fund and reinvest in socially responsible investments companies. And that is the first step. The BSM's campaign to divest UNC monies from South Africa is by no means the first attempt by a student organization to fighi or the issue. A report issued by the UNC Public Interest Research Group in Nov., 1982 revealed that UNC has $90,000 invested in Control Data, $557,000 in IBM and $651,000 in General Motors. UNC's investments in South Africa total over $1.9 million dollars! The Campus Governing Council, which has $12,000 in the Endowment Fund, issued a reguest for the Board to withdraw student fees form it s trust. Though students passed a divestment referendum in Feb., 1983 by a 2:1 margin, the board refused to make changes in their economic policy with regard to South Africa. So what is it about the BSM threat will allow them to be successful with the issue of Aparthied. According to Banks, "In the BSM we enjoy the luxury of having a bond between us (the Central committee and the general body) that might serve will for a movement of this kind... What we have to do is to build a sense of identify in the students, and I think we can do that." It is clear that the BSM has begun a campaign which will call for a great committment of time and resources from the BSM Central Committee and the general body. However, they will not be alone. The Black Greek Council and People Against Racism have both voiced strong support of the cause. Tanya Smith, a member of the Black Greek Council says the it was a good move for the BSM and the BGC to unite on the issue of Apartheid. "BGC is made of many Black Campus leaders whose input will prove beneficial to the BSM." says Smith. Smith also believes that the two organization share a common racial in terest in the issue. She states the "the issue affects us more directly than other organizations. We can attack the issue with more passion and committment than other organizations can." Sibby Anderson, Chairperson of PAR believes that her organizations in volvement with the BSM an offer an informative resource for the student body. Anderson says threat “Apartheid is an institutionalized form of racism. I believe that it pertains to all (jf us. However the majority of students are not as informed as they should be on this issue.' During the news conference the BSM and its supporters were confronted with the issue of the economic loss that UNC would incur were it to divest monies from South Africa. The response that Banks gave seemed to convey the greatest strength in the organizations arguments for divestment-"We do not see the issue as a matter of dollars and cents, we see the issue as a matter of what's right and what's wrong. What we will gain in moral standards will more ' ■ than cdrnpensate for any'possible loss iri'profits fo UNC. ' ^ _ . -ttie , 3n^ i3*Tiparyeirti'tWr U uJc'th. rieEci al I H+14 r*cr>«y u>6. oanqctrto ^ u,pport -tehelp educdfc'on- nvw ye ■apprecicjte twij Srt,ord AlloSer (jourcwitntuti'cns WricCL, xe our coootfiPi Rpatlhefcl TRIANGLE GUILD JOSEPH HOLMES DANCE THEATRE Saturday, February 9 ROYAL BALLET OF FLANDERS Saturday, February 23 EDWARD VILLELLA & DANCERS Friday, March 22 BALLET FOLCLORICO NACIONAL DE MEXICO Saturday, March 30 Plus Special Added Bonus! THE FELD BALLET Saturday, October 6 Tickets at Union Box Office Albertina Smith Editor in Chief Kevin Washington Assistant Editor Sharyn McCombs Business Manager Rhonda Hubbard Managing Editor Cheryl Williams Features Editor Denise Moultrie Photographer Barry Carson Advertising Manager
Black Ink (Black Student Movement, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill)
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Sept. 27, 1984, edition 1
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