South Africa Divestment Records, 1972-1987

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Series II: Student Protests, 1981-1985

The Student Protests Series documents the response to the Coalition for a Free South Africa's blockade and hunger strike in April 1985. This small series consists of letters and phone call records from Columbia students, alumni, and students from other colleges voicing support for the protesters. There is also one folder related to disciplinary action against the protesters, which includes President Sovern's statement following the protest and an amicus brief filed by Columbia Law professors arguing against disciplinary action. The Series also contains a video "Adapt or Die: The End of White Politics in South Africa," and a digital file created by Danny Armstrong, a student protest leader, which includes flyers, letters, articles, and other materials related to his experience fighting for divestment. In addition to the records in Series II, a number of folders in Series I contain flyers from student protests in and leading up to 1985. These flyers are mixed in with the materials collected by the President and Trustees. See box 1 folder 5, box 2 folder 10, box 3 folder 9 and box 4 folder 1.



Box Laptop The South African Divestment Movement: A Personal Perspective, 1981-1985

A Microsoft Word file containing images and documents put together by the Coalition for a Free South African chairman Danny Armstrong. This file can be viewed on a laptop in the Rare Book and Manuscript Library's reading room.



Box 4 Folder 17 ABC Close-Up Adapt or Die, 1983


Box 4 Folder 7 Phone Calls, 1985


Box 4 Folder 8 Divestment: A Leadership Publication, 1985


Box 4 Folder 9-10 Letters to Michael Sovern, 1985


Box 4 Folder 11 Divestment Protests - Disciplinary Action, 1985


Box 4 Folder 13-14 Petitions - Divestment Protests, form Letters in Support, 1985


Box 4 Folder 15 Letters to Michael Sovern from Brown University Students, 1985