House of Representatives Candidate Tells Activists Shanties Should Stay

A leading candidate in Massachusetts' Eighth Congressional District race last night told Harvard activists that the University is hypocritical in requesting that the Southern Africa Solidarity Committee (SASC) remove its prodivestment shanties.

After his informal address, candidate George Bachrach, one of twelve vying for the House of Representatives seat of Thomas P. ("Tip") O'Neill Jr., stayed the night in the shanties at the invitation of student protestors who are hoping to gather support for the continued presence of the structures in the Yard.

"Harvard has played it a little fast and loose," Bachrach said of Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences A. Michael Spence's letter asking that SASC clear Harvard Yard of its shanties for Commencement activities. He was planning to deliver a letter to President Derek C. Bok today, but declined to state its contents.

"Harvard's message is that it's okay for you to be [in the Yard] when no one of influence is here, but that you cannot be here when the power brokers--the alumni who decide where Harvard's money goes--are here," Bachrach told 40 activists and onlookers at the shanties.

"Unless the shanties stand when those are here who lead the institution--the alumni--then you are being denied freedom of speech," said Bachrach, whom recent polls show as running second or third in the congressional race.

When SASC five weeks ago erected the structures in protest of Harvard's owning stock in companies that do business in South Africa, the University stated that for the time being it had "no plans to do anything about the situation." But yesterday, Spence, who did not speak on behalf of the faculty, requested that SASC and the Conservative Club both remove the structures they had built.

Bachrach told the protestors that their efforts would prick the conscience of other students.

"This is important for the inspiration you give to all the people who know they should be here [at the shanties], but aren't," said Bachrach, who two years ago was arrested for protesting a company's trading in South African gold Krugerrands.

Bachrach said that if Harvard divests of the $416 million it has invested in companies that do business in South Africa, then other universities will follow suit.

"Harvard is the most prestigious, the best-known, the leader. If Harvard divests, then other institutions will feel the pressure," said Bachrach.