The Rice Thresher (Houston, Tex.), Vol. 71, No. 4, Ed. 1 Friday, September 9, 1983 Page: 2 of 16
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Soviet murder: what's^new?
It took the Soviets six days to admit that they shot down an
unarmed passenger airliner. It will probably take them an eternity
to feel remorse. The latest Soviet version of the incident (the
sixteenth, I am told) proposes that the interceptor pilots
responsible for the death of 269 civilians somehow knew that the
clearly marked South Korean Airlines 747 was on a secret spy
mission instigated by the ever-imperialist United States.
It is possible that the American or Korean CIA could have
riveted cameras to the underside of the plane in question. The
Soviets, however, have made it clear that they will continue to
shoot down planes that "do not act in accordance with Soviet
law", regardless of whether they are used for spy purposes.
Certainly, if the Soviets wish to claim that their pilots discovered
concealed spy cameras they can hardly expect us to believe that
the same pilots couldn't see two foot tall lettering reading "Korean
Air Lines" on the side of the plane.
The real question raised by this episode, a question not even
addressed by most analysts, is simple: Why would the Soviets be
afraid of a 747 with cameras on it? What is it about the Sakhalin
area that the Soviets think is worth a huge price both in lives and
international respect?
Quite simply, at issue is the same problem that haunts any form
of arms limitation talk that the Soviets enter into: verification of
compliance. The Soviets, while willing to agree to practically
anything on paper in the way of arms control, have steadfastly
refused to allow bilateral on-site inspection of compliance.
Unable to directly inspect Soviet compliance, the United States
has had to resort to high-speed plane overflights and satellite
observation coupled with missile trajectory triangulation. The
data extracted from these indirect methods of keeping the Soviets
honest by the NSA suggests that the Soviets are "re-interpreting"
the treaties they have signed, much in the same way they have
ignored the ill-fated Helsinki Accord on human rights.
Motivation for the Soviet atrocity is further found in the Soviet
military's need to constantly test the accuracy ,of the American
surveillance effort trained upon them. By shooting down a
Korean jetliner in cold blood and watching the American
reaction, the Soviets have obtained a conservative estimate of the
NSA's ability to intercept their telecommunications.
President Reagan is wise in avoiding any overt linkage between
the airliner incident and arms control talks. The Soviet attitude
towards verification of their compliance will effect Reagan's
stance, however. Likewise, ripples from the Korean jetliner's cold
burial will affect America's perception of other Soviet activities:
biochemical warfare in Indochina, forced labor in Siberia,
intimidation in Poland and an unraveling assassination attempt
against the Pope. The Soviets couldn't have thought up a better
way to open arms reduction negotiations.
Proctor key to Code
The statistics on Honor Code violations released by Honor
Council Chairman Randy Marshall in his column facing this page
are truly disconcerting. Beyond the raw increase in accusations
and trials there is the disheartening failure of the Proctor's office
to uphold decisions made by the Honor Council. Were the
necessarily confidential details and circumstances of Proctor
Holt's reversals made public, I believe Rice's student body, alumni
and faculty would be outraged. I am sure that the Honor Council
under the leadership of Randy will stem the increasing tide of
violations. Less certain is whether Holt will have the guts to
uphold decisions those few times when discipline is necessary.
-Christopher Ekren
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DEFOLIATING THE HEDGES/by Mark Mitchell
m NEW W FROM ISRAEL 0U5TANNEXEP THE 3HUFFLEB0ARP
COURT,,,
With the recent uproar over the
proposed alumni trip to South
Africa, it seems appropriate to
raise the related issue of university
policy towards investing in
companies that conduct business
in South Africa. Although most
universities of Rice's endowment
size have been wrestling with this
issue for five years or more, I am
unaware of its mention inside the
hedges and will start to fill this
void.
The single most important
reason for a refusal to support
businesses which deal with South
Africa is that country's outright
policy of racial supremacy and
resultant abysmal human rights
record. Blacks, Asians, and
persons of mixed race (officially
termed colored) are institutionally
denied the most basic human
rights.
Apartheid (an abhorrent reality
and difficult to pronounce term
used exclusively in connection
with South Africa) and related
jailings, police brutality, and
murder are all so widespread in
South Africa that it is hard for this
columnist to believe the U.S.
Marines didn't step in ten years
ago and set up the Botha regime.
Although withholding business on
moral grounds should be a
sufficient justification for
divestiture, there are objections
which deserve discussion.
Critics of divestiture are in favor
of corporate operation within the
law, and contend that businesses
should not promulgate societal
opinions or export inalienable
rights free of charge.
Unfortunately, these critics are
primarily members of - who else -
the military industrial complex.
The 'Republic' of South Africa has
provided firms with exclusive
contracts and options which have
fueled our leviathan war - errr -
defense program. South Africa is
blessed with rich deposits of
manganese, platinum, chromium,
vanadium, uranium, gold,
diamonds and other minerals,
most of which 1 would gladly give
up my daily recommended dosage
of, if it meant an eventual end to
apartheid.
Knowing the intricate ties
between American corporations
and our government, it seems
unlikely we could pass a
meaningful piece of legislation to
bring about change in South
Africa; given the pervasive
influence of some companies
abroad (and assuming that
American industrial leaders do
loathe apartheid), the multi-
national corporation looks
increasingly adept as a means of'
social change.
Often considered as an
alternative to divestiture is the
potential for shareholder
resolutions requiring adherence to
Baptist minister Leon Sullivan's
voluntary code for foreign
businesses operating in South
Africa. This code proposes such
"oddities" as desegregated working
facilities, the right to unionize and
equal pay for equal work.
Presently less than half of our
companies abide by the code
because it is voluntary and
expensive.
Harvard University President
Derek Bok, in response to pres-
sure by students for a South
African-free investment policy,
concluded last spring that,
"Realistically, there is little that a
university in the United States can
do to overcome the evils and
injustices in a land far removed
from our own."
I fear Mr. Bok is denying the
dynamic role universities must
play in the world and is acting too
much like a businessman.
see Defoliating page 3
WRESHER
Christopher Ekren
Editor
Todd A. Cornett
Business Manager
Dave Collins, Paul Havlak News Editors
Ian Hersey Fine Arts Editor
A1 Mathiowetz, Tony Soltero .... Sports Editors
Jeanne Cooper, Tom Morgan .... Senior Editors
Mark Mitchell Associate Editor
John Krueger, Hal Weideman Back Page Editors
* *
Jason Binford Advertising Manager
Chip Clay, Conrad Reining Photography Editors
Jay Grob ^°py Editor
Contributing Staff
Assistant Editor 0... Stephen Bene (Fine Arts)
Graphics Ian Hersey
News Staff.... Patty Cleary, Larry Lesser, Mark Rome
Todd Giorgio, Derek Smith, Scott Flukinger
Fine Arts Staff Vincent Uher, Gwen Richard
Jennifer Juday, Devorah Knaff, Harry Wade, Michael
Manson, Kathryn Tomasek, Ray Isle, Geoff Spradley,
Greg Holies, R. Michael Hunt, Karin Murphy, M.
Christopher Boyer
Sports Staff Steve Mollenkamp, Art Rabeau
Production Staff ... Jeanne Cooper, Robert Stoy, staff
Business Staff
Assistant Business Manager Susan Brown
Assistant Advertising Manager David Koralek
Circulation Jay Grob, Tom Morgan
The Rice Thresher, the official student newspaper at Rice University since 1916. is published
each Friday during the school year, except during examination periods and holidays, by the
students of'Rtcc University. Editorial and business offices are located on the second floor of the
Rice Memorial Center. P.O. Box 1892, Houston, Texas 77251 Telephone (713) 527-4801 or
527-4802. Advertising information available upon request Mail subscription rate: $20.00
domestic, $40.00 international, (via first class mail). The opinions expressed herein are not
necessarily those of anyone except the writer. Obviously.
^ 1983. The Rice Thresher. All rights reserved.
The Rice Thresher, September 9, 1983, page 2
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Ekren, Christopher. The Rice Thresher (Houston, Tex.), Vol. 71, No. 4, Ed. 1 Friday, September 9, 1983, newspaper, September 9, 1983; Houston, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth245536/m1/2/: accessed June 20, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; crediting Rice University Woodson Research Center.