Campus Protests on South Africa

University of California students are calling for divestiture of UC investments in companies doing business in South Africa. Fine. Abolition of apartheid is certainly more important than loss of dividends.

However, it is one thing to demand a policy change that does not affect you financially. It is quite different when such a change does affect you financially.

It is only fair then that if yielding to the students’ demand for divestment results in financial loss to the university, then the students should do their part to help offset the loss.

Therefore, let the students decide: No divestment and no increase in tuition. Or divestment but with a possible increase in tuition, if needed, to help offset financial loss.

Let the students prove they are willing to do more than simply stage demonstrations. Let them prove they are willing to help pay the cost of defeating apartheid, a cost everybody must pay.

CHRIS WYNNFIELD

Arcadia