Letters to the Administration
University of Michigan students demonstrate in favor of divestment during a Board of Regents meeting, April 19, 1979.
Throughout the divestment campaign, students, faculty, other members of the Ann Arbor community, and people from around the country sent in letters to the administration of the University of Michigan. Some of these letters are displayed below.
Anti-apartheid organizations on campus passed out pre-written letters for students to sign and address to members of the administration.
This letter to Regent Nederlander from Robert Casad Jr. is signed "From An American Dream Trainee".
A letter to Regent Nederlander from Benjamin Clark, who claims he is "in the minority on the South African issue"because he is voicing his opinion, unlike many other students on campus.
The Committee on Corporate Responsibility, a religious organization concerned with U.S. economic policy, urges divestment.
A UM economics graduate student encourages divestment.
A UM student says it is impossible to single out one country as the "worst or most oppressive" and that UM should not divest "but continue with its present policies toward South Africa."
The Catholic Diocese of Lansing calls on the Regents to divest.
A Regent Emeritus writes President Fleming, urging divestment.
A representative of the South African government warns President Fleming against divestment.
A member of UM LS&A Honors Council demands that the Regents divest.
A Rhodesian UM Dearborn professor says the Regents March 16 resolution will make UM "an accomplice in the horrible political system of apartheid."
A UM student asks, "How many buildings here are built on the blood of African workers?"
An anti-apartheid activist calls the Regents "closed-minded imperialists."
An L.S.A. junior calls the Sullivan Principles "an inadequate response to the problem."
A UM student reminds the Regents that they "are responsible for [their] actions and must account to me and my fellow students and taxpayers."
A UM Dearborn professor endorses divestment "to clear the university of complicity" and proposes a possible alternative solution.