Nigeria Boycott Urged

Hafsat D. Abiola '96, daughter of the democratically elected president of Nigeria, addressed the Undergraduate Council last night, successfully garnering council support for a resolution calling for University divestment from Nigeria.

The resolution comes in the wake of last week's executions of political activists in Nigeria. The military regime in Nigeria, which seized power in 1993, hanged 11 activists, including environmentalist, poet and 1996 Nobel Peace Prize nominee Ken Saro-Wiwa. The executions have received worldwide condemnation.

The council's resolution, which passed with no opposition and 11 abstentions, "requests the Harvard Corporation and Board of Overseers of Harvard College to adopt a policy of selective purchasing which would prohibit any part of the University or its subsidiaries from buying products from or entering into contracts with oil companies which invest in Nigeria."

The resolution also calls for complete divestment of the University from oil companies presently investing in Nigeria.

It further requests that President Neil L. Rudenstine sign letters to Shell Oil, a leading investor in Nigeria in which the University is reportedly a shareholder, "expressing out-rage and dismay at the executions."

Although the University will neither confirm nor deny whether it owns Shell stock, a member of the Advisory Committee on Shareholder Responsibility unofficially confirmed to the council that the University does own stock in the oil company.

According to Abiola, whose father has been jailed since the military regime seized power, Saro-wiwa was lobbying for government sanctions against Shell when he was jailed and executed.

"He was asking [the government] to revise regulations about oil production," she said.

"Shell asked the government to handle stability in Ogoniland, where the oil is, and the government began its program of 'cleansing," Abiola said.

The "cleansing," according to Abiola, has resulted in the jailing and execution of many Nigerian environmental activists who believe Shell and other oil production com- panies are exploiting Nigerian resources and harming the nation.

"Shell did not clean up after many oil spills," Abiola said.

"Shell said it was not their responsibility and that it wasn't in their agreement with the Nigerian government," she added.

Noah R. Freeman '98, a co-sponsor of the resolution, said that while the council knows the University owns less than 10 percent of Shell stock, the stock's value may exceed one million dollars.

"We own stock in Shell. Shell is funding these murders. Something has to change," Freeman said.

Freeman added that because students and their parents pay tuition to the University, it is their money which is being invested in Nigeria.

He said students should have a right to petition the administration for divestment.

Resolution co-sponsor and Student Affairs Committee chair Marco B. Simons '97 said he agreed, adding that the council itself has a mandate to become involved with University investment policy.

"Our mandate allows us jurisdiction over University policies, and investment is included in this," he said.

Some council members said they were concerned that to divest from Nigeria would send the wrong message to Shell Oil.

Instead of appearing to wash their hands of the human rights abuses in Nigeria, the University should retain its shares in Shell and use them to vote as "conscientious shareholders," said Jeremy R. Jenkins '97-'98.

Jenkins introduced an amendment to this effect, which failed by a vote of 29-27.

After the resolution's passage, both Simons and Freeman expressed approval and satisfaction with the resolution's success.

"This puts the U.C. on a new path to look at Harvard in its role as a member of the international community," Freeman said.

Simons added that, "this is the first time we've ever considered something greater than ourselves."

In other business, the council voted to sponsor a free comedy show at a time to be announced. It also voted to request positions for council members on student-faculty committees.

A resolution proposing to bring the rock group "Gin Blossoms" to campus this spring for a concert was tabled because of financial concerns facing the council

"Shell did not clean up after many oil spills," Abiola said.

"Shell said it was not their responsibility and that it wasn't in their agreement with the Nigerian government," she added.

Noah R. Freeman '98, a co-sponsor of the resolution, said that while the council knows the University owns less than 10 percent of Shell stock, the stock's value may exceed one million dollars.

"We own stock in Shell. Shell is funding these murders. Something has to change," Freeman said.

Freeman added that because students and their parents pay tuition to the University, it is their money which is being invested in Nigeria.

He said students should have a right to petition the administration for divestment.

Resolution co-sponsor and Student Affairs Committee chair Marco B. Simons '97 said he agreed, adding that the council itself has a mandate to become involved with University investment policy.

"Our mandate allows us jurisdiction over University policies, and investment is included in this," he said.

Some council members said they were concerned that to divest from Nigeria would send the wrong message to Shell Oil.

Instead of appearing to wash their hands of the human rights abuses in Nigeria, the University should retain its shares in Shell and use them to vote as "conscientious shareholders," said Jeremy R. Jenkins '97-'98.

Jenkins introduced an amendment to this effect, which failed by a vote of 29-27.

After the resolution's passage, both Simons and Freeman expressed approval and satisfaction with the resolution's success.

"This puts the U.C. on a new path to look at Harvard in its role as a member of the international community," Freeman said.

Simons added that, "this is the first time we've ever considered something greater than ourselves."

In other business, the council voted to sponsor a free comedy show at a time to be announced. It also voted to request positions for council members on student-faculty committees.

A resolution proposing to bring the rock group "Gin Blossoms" to campus this spring for a concert was tabled because of financial concerns facing the council