Risking It All

HARVARD'S ISN'T the only American university campus beset by protests against the apartheid regime in South Africa. At Williams College, students recently staged a hunger strike to dramatize their opposition the school's investments in companies operating in the racist state Responding to student outcry, the University of Michigan has actually agreed to partial divestiture from such firms What is perhaps less well known is that students at universities outside the U S have began to register their disapproval as well.

The latest foreign cry of protest came from four English-speaking universities in South Africa itself The Pretoria Government precipitated this newest clash. Starting last week the South African Parliament was scheduled to debate quota regulations concerning admission of Blacks to that nation's universities. Such a system would replace the current policy, under which the Minister of Black Education reviews cash Black student's application. This review system applies, to Asian and "colored," or mixed race, applicants as well. Like most of the apartheid policies, this one also began in 1959. Since that time, the English-speaking universities have opposed discriminatory admissions, despite the ever-present threat of government reprisal.

THERE are several "types" of South African university: white English-speaking, white Afrikaans, language. Black, Asian, and "colored." The South Africans draw no hard and fast lines between these colleges, but basic distinctions remain At the Afrikaans universities (Afrikaaners control the Government), less than one half of one percent of the students last year came from the Black majority At the Black, "colored," and Asian institutions a similarly insignificant number of whites were enrolled It is only at the English-speaking universities that anything even remotely approaching equality has been preserved. Thirteen percent of the students at these four universities last year were Black, Asian, or "colored." But apartheid's foes believe that the proposed new system is aimed at cutting even this slim number.

Professor Peter Booysen, acting principal of the University of Natal, one of the four involved, has told The New York Times that "we are totally opposed to any form of admission policy based on criteria other than academic criteria." His colleges have denounced almost unanimously the proposed quota system as an affront to the principles of university autonomy and racial equity in higher education. Furthermore, the senate of the largest institution involved, the University of the Witwatersrand, issued a pointed statement last month, nothing that the University's leaders condemned any attempt to "compel the university to become an instrument of the Government's policy of discrimination against students on grounds of race."

Here at Harvard, students can protest without fear of government reprisal, unlike their South African counterparts. The Undergraduate Council has endorsed an escrow account alternative to the Senior Gift, to be held until the University divests its South African investments. The Advisory Committee on Shareholder Responsibility has urged the Corporation to consider moral questions before buying stock, largely because of student concern over South African investments.

In contrast, punitive action threatens university officials and students under apartheid. Black students in South Africa are bravely demanding that Pretoria respect their basic human rights. Their educational leaders have made a powerful international statement that should inspire apartheid's opponents around the world. Paul W. Green