Overseers Consider Divestment Report

The Board of Overseers yesterday met to discuss a series of recommendations on the divestment issue, but the president of the Board refused to disclose the results of the meeting.

At its monthly meeting, the Board discussed the report of the Joint Committee on Divestment, which was formed last year to scrutinize the University's position on South Africa-related stocks. The Corporation will itself examine the report together with whatever conclusions the Overseers may have reached.

Overseers President Robert R. Barker '36 refused to disclose whether the Board took any action on the divestment report. "The report was considered by the Overseers [yesterday], and it will be considered by the Corporation [today]. Perhaps there will some type of statement after that," Barker said.

Barker, who as president serves as official spokesperson for the Board, would not comment further on the Overseers meeting or on the status of the committee's report. When asked why he would not disclose the results of the meeting, Barker said, "This matter is still confidential. I cannot talk about it."

The committee was formed to discuss the divestment question after a pro-divestment overseer called on the Board to vote on the issue last year. The Board traditionally acts as an advisory body for the Corporation, which manages Harvard's investment policy, giving its opinion only when asked.

The joint committee, which includes overseers and Corporation members, is charged with investigating the University's divestment policy and reporting back to the Overseers and the seven-man Corporation. The joint committee met throughout the summer and fall, and compiled its report over the last month.

Overseers were met yesterday morning at 9 a.m. by a group of about 40 students, who spoke to most board members and distributed information packets about divestment.