Recently I've gotten involved with an organization at the University that calls itself "STAND."
Students Taking Action Now: Darfur.
Admittedly, I was a bit hesitant about getting myself involved with the organization. I figured that it would be the stereotypical, leftist, activist organization with completely lofty and unrealistic goals.
However, I was pleasantly surprised.
As the organization's leadership explains it, STAND's primary goal is to pressure UVA to divest from any corporations that do business with the Sudanese government. This has been successful achieved at several Ivy league University's, and there is a growing grassroots movement across the country.
In order to do this however, the University's administration must first make public the contents of its investment portfolio. At the moment, STAND is engaged in negotiations with the administration to do just this.
Now, why am I writing this diary?
I know that there are many UVA alumni who frequent this site, and occasionally comment on the diaries. And I thought it would be worth a shot to encourage these alumni (and everybody else), to write to the University, and ask them to reveal the contents of their portfolio, so steps can be taken towards a policy of divestment.
Already, close to two thousand students have pledged their support for such an action (during school wide elections) and petitions have been signed asking the administration to open up the portfolio.
Now, I understand that UVA probably only invests in a small number of relatively small firms that do buisness in the Sudan. However, divestment is a symbolic action. If prominent universities begin a policy of divestment from said buisnesses, it will both encourage other universities, and our law makers to take action. Already, Dartmouth, Harvard several other Ivy League schools have taken steps to or divested from corporations who do business in the Sudan.
Anyway, I would greatly appreciate any sort of action from the community at Daily Kos. Thanks for reading.
Pertinent emails:
Financial operations at the University
And a shameless plug for my blog: The United States of Jamerica