Abstract:
With word of his retirement making national news, University President William Brody was reminded of his 2005 statement to the News-Letter that when he retired, he would play in a piano bar....
(1) JHU refuses to review indirect holdings (e.g. mutual funds) and therefore may still invest in offending companies (e.g. PetroChina, Sinopec, ONGC). While divestment from managed funds may be infeasible, JHU has an ethical responsibility to at least conduct a review. JHU is one of the only top universities with no formal policy on the Darfur crisis.
(2) Even if JHU has no investments, JHU STAND's 'Targeted Divestment' model recommends restricting future investment in the worst-offending companies until they change their behavior. JHU divested from tobacco companies in 1991 and some South African companies during Apartheid. Failure to act on Darfur is inconsistent with historical precedent and threatens JHU's reputation.
(3) Coca-Cola, Pepsi-Cola, and other elements of the Sudanese consumer economy are strictly excluded from targeted divestment. The ~26 offending companies are primarily foreign energy firms that impart minimal benefit to civilians, while providing vast revenue for the Khartoum regime. JHU STAND's criteria are narrowly focused to maximize impact on the ground while minimizing economic harm to civilians and JHU. For more information: www.jhudivest.org
Spring Break
Aaron Martel
posted 3/31/08 @ 9:03 PM EST
(2) Even if JHU has no investments, JHU STAND's 'Targeted Divestment' model recommends restricting future investment in the worst-offending companies until they change their behavior. JHU divested from tobacco companies in 1991 and some South African companies during Apartheid. Failure to act on Darfur is inconsistent with historical precedent and threatens JHU's reputation.
(3) Coca-Cola, Pepsi-Cola, and other elements of the Sudanese consumer economy are strictly excluded from targeted divestment. The ~26 offending companies are primarily foreign energy firms that impart minimal benefit to civilians, while providing vast revenue for the Khartoum regime. JHU STAND's criteria are narrowly focused to maximize impact on the ground while minimizing economic harm to civilians and JHU. For more information: www.jhudivest.org