Cautious Criticism

To the Editors of The Crimson:

Your editorial opposing contained he ringing phrase. "Nobody likes apartheid." That I suppose, is true; but the grudging, bureaucratic of the phrase--and of the editorial is a whole underlies how sadly misconceived your position was.

Like it or not, Harvard has taken a position on apartheid. That position, it's true, may not be the most morally repugnant. The University's sale of stock in the most aberrant companies is surely to be commended. But that sale only illustrates Harvard's complicity with those companies who remain in South Africa. By cutting ties with some companies, Harvard stands by the others and their support of the apartheid system.

But the Crimson's stand is especially sad for two reasons. First, it comes at a time when a national consensus is emerging on the need for public opposition to the South African government--and at a time when that government has taken ever-more-brutal steps to suppress its Black majority. For The Crimson now to violate that national solidarity places the newspaper on the wrong side of the wrong issue at the wrong time.

Second, The Crimson has been on the right side of the this issue for many years long before a national consensus emerged. Yes, The Crimson editorial column has been imperfect over the years, but the self righteous He sometimes self righteous as well. The Crimson was both: so should it still be. Jeffrey R. Toobin '82   1981 Crimson Editorial Chairman