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Show The Daily Utah Chronicle, Thursday, October 17, Page Six 1985 EDITORIAL Chronicle demands U. end all dealings with South Africa The University of Utah currently supports apartheid. Sure, most students and faculty are abhorred by the South African governments formal policies of racial discrimination. But the truth of the matter is that U. money is invested in companies with ties in South Africa. As long as that's the case, all our talk against the atrocities of apartheid is basically futile. Unfortunately the situation which places the U. in a position of guilt and responsibility for apartheid doesn't seem likely to change. Although the ASUU Assembly showed enough concern over the U.s role in South Africa to demand immediate divestiture, the resolution it passed stands little chance of becoming actual U. policy. Why? Because U. officials have shown little desire in the past or present to go to the trouble of divestiture. Since the U.'s investment money constitutes such small portion of total investments in corporations like IBM and a General Motors, the administration feels that removal of funds will do nothing to persuade the South African government to change. Instead, U. officials have said that current investments should be used as leverage within U.S. companies to insist that progress toward racial equity be made. The U. apparently demands that the companies it invests with use fair employment practices. This idea sounds a lot like President Reagan's famous policy of "constructive engagement." Unfortunately for both Reagan and the U., constructive engagement as a policy toward apartheid has been a complete failure. Racists have failed to respond to subtle pressures while more than 750 deaths from racial unrest have occurred in the past 20 months. As the Chronicle has said before, the solutions to stopping the problems of South Africa lie beyond this campus. No policy adopted at the U. will be conclusive in ending apartheid. The only conclusive thing U. students and faculty can do is remove themselves from the degrading position of being party to organized discrimination. That means getting rid of all financial ties to South Africa, no matter how minimal or vague they may be. The Chronicle urges the Institutional Council, and especially President Chase Peterson, to take a close look at the recommendation made by the ASUU Assembly. We also suggest that the practice of following the Sullivan Principles another word for constructive engagement be reconsidered. On behalf of all U. students who want to rid themselves of the personal responsibility of financial condoning apartheid, the Chronicle demands that all U. funds be removed from companies with dealings in South Africa. 7 .... LHRO NICLE The Daily Utah Chronicle is an independent student newspaper published during fall, winter and spring quarters, excluding test weeks and quarter breaks, by the University Publications Council. Editorials reflect the opinion of the editorial board, and not necessarily the opinions of the student body or the administration. Subscriptions are S25 a year, $10 an academic quarter. All subscriptions must be prepaid. Forward all subscription correspondence, including change of address, to the Business Manager, ZXj;7v Utah Chronicle, 240 Union, University of Utah. Salt Lake Gty, Utah 84112. can think of one good use for Reagan's ef Associate Editor News Editor iii Scrap Presidents' Day for King I eucss I shouldn't have been surorised. This is Utah after all the state that people like Jerry Falwell probably consider the next best thing to heaven. But, when a recent poll conducted by Dan Jones & Associates revealed that 60 percent of Utahns arc opposed to a holiday commemorating Martin Luther King Jr., I was floored. OPINION BY Shia Kapos Sixty percent? I still can't believe it! The poll asked "Do you feel Utah should make it (Martin Luther King's birthday) a legal holiday? Of the responses, 42 percent said definitely no, and 18 percent said probably no. Many of those are opposed to the idea of celebrating the slain civil rights leader's birthday because there are too many holidays already celebrated. One more holiday would put state workers even further behind in their work, they say. Well if that's the problem, then why not change a few of the holidays already celebrated by Utahns? Personally, and I know I'm not alone, I don't ever celebrate the July 24th holiday. Taking that holiday off the calendar would suit many of us just fine. Or, if the state doesn't want to do that, how about going a step farther by taking the issue back to the federal level. Many states have already made King's birthday a holiday. If there are enough states in the country who also want to make it a state holiday maybe Congress could consider changing Presidents' Day to something like Great Americans' Day. After all, King did just as much if not more for this country than Washington and Lincoln did. Just as his presidential predecessors, King is recognized for his ability to lead and promote peace. And, just to make things a bit easier for those putting the dates on the calendar, King's birthday is within a month of Washington's and Lincoln's. A Great Americans' Day would keep federal workers happy since they already honor Presidents' Day. Such a day could honor those who made a worthy contribution to mankind and the country. Martin Luther King, who was assassinated in 1968, did both and more. King was the leading spokesman for blacks during the 1960s and organized the peaceful fight for equal rights for blacks. He made one of the greatest contributions to equal rights in the United States. Despite all that King did to revolutionize human rights Editorial Board: Peter Behle, Marva Bickle, Shauna Bona, Lisa Carricaburu, Shia Kapos, Debbie E. Milne, John Youngren. Editor-in-Chi- anti-satellite- .... Editorial Editor Sports Editor City Editor Photography Editor Copy Editor Asst. Editorial Editor Asst. Sports Editor Asst. Extra Editor Peter Behle Debbie Eldredge Milne Lisa Carricaburu Shia Kapos John Youngren Marva Bickle Steve Griffin Dory Donner Shauna Bona Mike Prater Fara Warner Reporters Photographer . . . Business Manager Ad Representatives . . in America, Utah leaders feel the holiday isn't necessary. Approving a state holiday, however, is only the beginning of the state leaders' reluctance to such a measure. A recent Deserei Netcs article says that in the last legislative session, Sen. Terry Williams, Lake, introduced a resolution to just honor, not a holiday, King and declare his birthday "Martin Luther King Day." The proposal was similar to most commemorative resolutions that pass quickly through both houses. But conservatives in both houses forced Williams, the only black legislator, to reword the resolution several times before lawmakers would approve it. I doubt it's because Williams proposal was not legible. Whatever the reason, their apparent reluctance to pass such a measure is an offense to those of us who consider Martin Luther King to be one of the greatest leaders and Americans in this country's history. Shia Kapos is a senior majoring in journalism and is editorial editor for the Chronicle. D-S- alt Construction is a danger Editor: I am concerned with the new construction being done near the bus stops on the University of Utah campus. Although I am sure whatever is being built will be of service to the students, I am concerned about the dangers posed, particularly to blind students. A week ago, I was waiting for a bus at the bus stop west of the Social Services Building. Near that stop there are a lot of large pine trees and construction work. While waiting I noticed a blind woman coming from the Social Services Building using a white cane. She disappeared behind one of the trees, and then as I glanced her way I saw a cane fly between the trees. I ran to help her because I realized she had fallen into one of the holes dug in the area for construction. Apparently she was not aware of the digging that had been done. She didn't hit the concrete or any of the posts but she could have been seriously injured. I am aware that there are several blind students at the U., and I wonder how many potentially dangerous "surprises" have been created throughout the campus. I'm sure that the construction will eventually benefit the students at the U., but I would like to suggest that be done to avoid the to something blind or perhaps injuries senior citizens who may be walking in that area unaware or unable to see the holes andor posts. I suggest the area be roped off. Reynaldo Sievers, Jr. Junior, political science Loren Jorgensen Trudy Skogerboe Donn Walker Amy Page Drew Staffansen Dee Naquin Connie Watts . Todd Crosland Robert McOmber . . . . Jill Aggeler Rick Chase Alan Overmoe Mary Safi John Hausknecht Accountant . . . . . Classifieds Production Manager Production Assistants Typesetters Cartoonist Kay Andersen Dawn Bacher . Robb Welch Randy Sheya Todd Crosland Janice Austin Mark Murphy Carrie Hadden Chris Dangerfield Rodney Dallin Marianne Macfarlane Mark McCune Tony Markham . |
