
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: THURSDAY, May 10, 1990                   TAG: 9005100694
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: B3   EDITION: EVENING 
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: RICHMOND                                LENGTH: Medium

SELL STOCK LINKED TO SOUTH AFRICA, WILDER URGES UVA

The administration of Gov. Douglas Wilder is urging the University of Virginia to sell stock it holds in companies doing business in South Africa, school officials say.

The finance committee of the university's governing board is to make a recommendation on divestiture next week.

Buford Scott of Richmond, a member of the committee, said he spoke Wednesday with Secretary of Education James Dyke.

"I don't think anybody has to guess how the governor feels on this issue," Scott said. "If I were the governor and felt strongly about something, I would not hesitate to let my friends know about it."

Wilder is an opponent of South Africa's policy of racial separation, but he has not publicly stated his position on divestiture.

Scott said he expects the committee will recommend that the board sell securities with any South African connections. Scott said he is leaning toward supporting divestiture.

The issue has been debated at UVa for 12 years and last month sparked a protest that led to the arrest of about 30 student opponents of apartheid.

Arnold Leon of Portsmouth, who was recently named to the UVa Board of Visitors, said he had discussed divestiture with Dyke over the past 10 days, but added, "No pressure was brought to bear by the governor's office one way or another."

Scott would not describe the administration's efforts as lobbying, characterizing them instead as a "high level of communication."

Laura Dillard, Wilder's press secretary, would say only that "it's my understanding that there were inquiries from board members on this issue."

Opponents of divestiture have launched their own lobbying campaign. Joshua Darden of Norfolk, the university's former rector, and Stuart Connock, former state finance secretary and now a UVa lobbyist, are among those raising financial and administrative concerns about divestiture.

by CNB