10 O'Clock News | [Selective divestment at Harvard University]

Anti-apartheid activists gather in Harvard Yard

[Selective divestment at Harvard University]
Original Airdate: 10/3/1986

Length: 00:03:04
Item Type: newstape - edited story master

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Full Description

1:00:18
Visual: Footage of Themba Vilakazi (African National Congress) speaking about apartheid at Harvard University. Vilakazi expresses his gratitude to those who have been pushing Harvard to divest from South Africa.

Marcus Jones reports that anti-apartheid activists are pleaded by the US Senate's override of US President Ronald Reagan's veto of sanctions against South Africa; that the activists are also pleased with Harvard's decision to divest almost $160 million of stocks and bonds from companies doing business in South Africa.

V: Shots of senators on the floor of the US Senate; of a group gathered around the John Harvard statue in Harvard Yard. Footage of Dorothee Benz (Harvard student) saying that the pro-sanction movement is gaining momentum; that Harvard will be forced to divest the rest of its holdings in the future.

Jones notes that student, labor, and community leaders gathered in Harvard Yard to call for a continuation of the struggle.

V: Shot of a gathering of anti-apartheid activists in Harvard Yard. Susan Dynarski (Harvard student) reminds the gathering that $360 million of Harvard's endowment remains invested in apartheid; that Harvard's administrators still believe that it is possible to invest responsibly in South Africa; that investment in South Africa will not lead to change. Footage of Roderick MacDougall (Treasurer, Harvard University) saying that Harvard is taking the more difficult course of engaging in one-on-one dialogue with companies doing business in South Africa. McDougall says that most South Africans would approve of the way Harvard has chosen to divest.

Jones reports that Harvard officials say that they made the decision to divest over the summer; that officials contend that the decision had nothing to do with student and alumni protests. Jones notes that there were anti-apartheid protests during the university's 350th anniversary celebration.

V: Footage of ant-apartheid protesters outside of Harvard Yard; of George Shultz (US Secretary of State) exiting a car and being escorted into the Fogg Art Museum; of a protest sign reading, "Harvard honors destructive engagement and Shultz"; of a protesters in front of a police cordon. Footage of MacDougall saying that Harvard is influenced by the opinions of various constituencies; that the divestment is not tied to any one constituency's opinion. Footage of Mirka Negroni (Harvard student) says that the univerity's decision to divest is proof that the protests are working.

Jones reports that Harvard will sell its holdings in five oil companies: Mobil, Texaco, Exxon, Chevron, and Royal Dutch Petroleum.

V: Shots of Harvard Yard; of an oil refinery; of the floor of a stock exchange; of a black mine worker; of African women sitting under a sign reading, "Mine Labour Organisations."

Jones notes that Harvard will divest of holdings in the Ford Motor Company, the Phelps-Dodge Mining Company and in an oil drilling firm. Jones reports that the university will still have $368 million invested in companies linked with South Africa, even after this initial divestment.

V: Shots of the John Harvard statue in Harvard Yard; of Harvard Yard; of the Harvard Seal on Baker Library.

Jones stands in front of the John Harvard statue in Harvard Yard. Jones reports that anti-apartheid activists will continue to support divestment; that activists will protest at Boston University next Thursday; that a day of national protests will be held on Friday.

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