Students Battle Police in Oberlin Divestment Rally

More than 150 pro-divestment Oberlin students clashed with campus police outside a meeting of the college's board of trustees last week in northern Ohio.

As the trustees declared an executive session--excluding student observers from the meeting while the college's South Africa investment policy was discussed--a large group of protestors gathered outside the board's meeting room.

Eventually the crowd began chanting and some students tried forcibly to enter the meeting room.

Campus officials asked the students to quiet down and then took student identification cards. The 59 students who were identified are being brought before the college's disciplinary board.

Four security officers guarded the door to the trustees' meeting room, and when students tried to push through them, they were repulsed and the door locked, The Oberlin Review reported.

The trustees were forced to exit their meeting through a back door.

At the meeting the board voted to reaffirm the college's investment Oberlin has about $15 million invested in companies that do business in South Africa.

According to the Oberlin investment policy, the college will not invest in any companies that provide strategic products or services to the South African police or military. In addition, Oberlin will not invest in companies that do not sign and comply with the Sullivan Principles.

Although the board excluded student observers from the meeting, the proceeding were broadcast over a public announcement system.

During the meeting, protesters outside linked arms and sang "We Shall Overcome."

After the meeting, trustees had to try to obtain their coats off coat racks near the protesters. Students kept the coats from the trustees shouting "No. If they want their coats, they'll have to divest first."

As trustees tried to get their coats, confrontations between students and trustees ensued.

Senior Troy Houston said of the protest: "For four years, nothing has happened. There's a lot of frustration shown in going beyond your basic rally."

According to the Oberlin investment policy, the college will not invest in any companies that provide strategic products or services to the South African police or military. In addition, Oberlin will not invest in companies that do not sign and comply with the Sullivan Principles.

Although the board excluded student observers from the meeting, the proceeding were broadcast over a public announcement system.

During the meeting, protesters outside linked arms and sang "We Shall Overcome."

After the meeting, trustees had to try to obtain their coats off coat racks near the protesters. Students kept the coats from the trustees shouting "No. If they want their coats, they'll have to divest first."

As trustees tried to get their coats, confrontations between students and trustees ensued.

Senior Troy Houston said of the protest: "For four years, nothing has happened. There's a lot of frustration shown in going beyond your basic rally."