Boycotting Ties to the Sudan Government

(Poughkeepsie) - In light of the convincing evidence that the government of Sudan is both committing and supporting genocide against the people of its Darfur region, the Vassar College Board of Trustees has approved the prohibition of direct investment by the college in companies either owned by the government of Sudan, or whose business activities support the country’s reprehensible policies. Vassar has also written to managers of commingled funds in which the college invests, urging divestment and/or prohibition of investment from these unsuitable companies.

Vassar has identified twenty-two companies for which investment is precluded, and the college has established a watch list of 14 other companies that it will monitor for possible later action. The college currently holds no direct investments in any of these companies.
In an October resolution, the college’s trustees said, “Vassar College is committed to the promotion and protection of human rights both locally and globally. Consistent with this commitment, the College takes measures to avoid investments in the securities of companies linked with gross human rights abuses.”

Vassar first announced its Sudan criteria for investments in an August 2006 statement from the Executive Committee of the Board of Trustees. The Campus Investor Responsibility Committee (CIRC) was then asked to conduct an initial review, and identified 39 such companies. Members of the committee conducted research using web-based resources, including company web sites and news articles, as well as reports developed by the Lowenstein International Human Rights Clinic at the Yale Law School, the Sudan Divestment Task Force, and others.

Further, the CIRC considered the industry in which a company participates, the nature of its activities in Sudan, whether the company acknowledges the broader political and military situation in Sudan, or if its activities might perpetuate this situation. The committee also considered which colleges and other institutions have targeted a company for divestment. Committee members made individual recommendations, which they reviewed and discussed, and then passed along to the Vassar trustees.

Vassar will continue monitoring these and other companies with respect to Sudan, including a semi-annual review.
Vassar College is a highly selective, coeducational, independent, residential, liberal arts college founded in 1861.