SASC Debates to a Deadlock; Committee Split Over Demands For Two Forms of Divestiture

The Southern Africa Solidarity Committee (SASC) once again voted to defer decision on its demands on the Harvard Corporation last night. The vote followed a tie procedural vote on whether the SASC should demand some form of either targeted or total divestiture of Harvard's investments in corporations active in South Africa.

Stalemate

The committee's stalemate and subsequent decision to postpone their vote for two weeks resulted from an inconclusive straw vote on whether they should support targeted divestiture or some form of total divestiture.

The committee members' debate centered on the question of which form of divestiture would be more successful in mobilizing the Harvard community and pressuring the Harvard Corporation to make a conclusive decision on their investments in corporations active in South Africa.

Jeff Holsman '79, a committee member, said last night the SASC must demand immediate divestiture "to make the South African question an issue in all the U.S., not just on the campuses as it is today."

Matt Rothschild '79, also a member of the SASC, said the committee will lose student support if they call for some form of immediate divestiture instead of a form of targeted divestiture. "We need time to build strong community support for divestiture before we can expect the corporation to take any actions on its investments," Rothschild said.

"The SASC is taking a long time to decide on our demands because we want to make sure we push a demand with full support," Peter Sachs '79-2, a committee member, said after the meeting. "The more we talk about the demands, the stronger our position will be, and the more successful we will be in educating students and faculty," Sachs added.

The SASC, however, did decide to form a sub-committee to establish a set structure for the third debate on their prospective demands to be held in approximately two weeks.