Repository: UIHistories Project: Board of Trustees Minutes - 1988 [PAGE 546]

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536

BOARD OF TRUSTEES

[May 11

However, it was his commitment to the future of this State as Governor which bore most directly on the University. In addition to his influence in the enactment of a new State Constitution, and his support for social services, education and welfare, he was directly, and courageously, involved in putting the State on a sound financial basis through the enactment of an income tax, possibly at serious political cost to him. The income tax, with an effective budget process, made fiscal planning possible for the University as well as other State agencies. Richard Ogilvie combined leadership, an acceptance of challenges, and a willingness to take risks to a rare degree in a public servant. The Trustees of the University of Illinois join the citizens of Illinois in honoring his memory. Request to be Heard, Champaign-Urbana Coalition Against Apartheid The coalition had asked to appear at the present meeting to speak on University investments and South Africa. At the direction of the president, the group had been advised the appearance would not be in order, as the board policy on South African investment provides that it will not be reviewed prior to December 1988. The secretary presented a second letter from the coalition and accompanying materials from the Student Government Association at Urbana, including a petition in which the University is asked to "withdraw its investment funds from all firms doing business in or with South Africa, including through licensing, financial and technological agreements." The letter requested an opportunity to appear before the board at the June 9 meeting in Chicago. On motion of Mr. Forsyth, a majority of the trustees voted to deny the request, on the same basis as the prior response, i.e., in accord with the policy, that it not be reviewed prior to December 1988. (There were two votes in opposition to the motion, those of Mr. Howard and Mr. Wolff; and one student advisory vote, that of Mr. Evenson. Mr. Wolff wished to record his negative vote on the following ground: the board has been open to presentations on this subject, with the understanding that in doing so there is no implication that the board intends to reopen the policy for reconsideration at this time. In his view, with this understanding, approval of the presentation would be appropriate. Mr. Howard associated himself with this observation.) REGULAR AGENDA The board considered the following reports and recommendations from the president of the University. By consensus, the board agreed that one vote would be taken and considered the vote on each agenda item nos. 1 through 7 inclusive. The recommendations were individually discussed but acted upon at one time. (The record of board action appears at the end of each item.)