Ohio University: Divest in Sudan

To:  the Student Senate, Administration, and Board of Directors of Ohio University

We the undersigned call on the Ohio University Student Senate, the administration and the Board of Directors to divest in the genocidal government of Sudan immediately. Until OU has fully rid itself of all investments in Sudan, we will not consider making donations to the Ohio University Foundation and will discourage others from doing so.

As a result of the ongoing genocide, 300,000 people have been murdered, 2.5 million people have been displaced from their homes, and countless civilians, including women, children and the elderly, have been brutalized by rape and senseless violence. While it is illegal for American firms to do business in Sudan, American investors can still buy stock in companies that work there. Since the genocide is government sponsored, and the Khartoum authorities receive 70% of their revenue from external investment, investing in companies that do business in Sudan is tantamount to financing the genocide, however incidentally.

It is also documented fact that it is not financially responsible to invest in a country with ongoing genocide or mass atrocities; consistently, companies doing so underperform when compared to peer institutions not working in those areas. Governments responsible for killing their own citizens do not make for stable economic environments, and pulling out of Sudanese investments now could safeguard Ohio University’s money in the future.

We understand the position of the Ohio University Foundation, and its reticence to accept social filters on its investments. But in the singularly evil case of genocide we ask that you make an exception and join the 61 American universities that have already divested.

Sincerely,

The Undersigned

The Ohio University: Divest in Sudan Petition to the Student Senate, Administration, and Board of Directors of Ohio University was created by and written by Emily Miner (emily.h.miner@gmail.com ).  This petition is hosted here at www.PetitionOnline.com as a public service. There is no endorsement of this petition, express or implied, by Artifice, Inc. or our sponsors. For technical support please use our simple Petition Help form.