UCLA’s Best: No. 1: Divestment task force gave hope to activism

With the proliferation of protests, rallies and demonstrations
that occur on campus, it’s easy to get cynical about the
effectiveness of grassroots organization efforts. But then the UC
Sudan Divestment Taskforce organized and showed us how it’s
supposed to be done.

The campaign’s objective seems simple now: for the
University of California to pull investments from companies known
to do business with the Sudanese government, which is said to be
involved in a genocide against its own people. But at the inception
of the campaign, even some UC officials said it was an issue
unlikely to be considered by the regents.

Still, through a process spanning more than a year, the task
force successfully presented its proposal to the UC Board of
Regents. The regents voted to divest March 20.

Of course, the regents enabled the campaign to reach its full
potential with their vote. But the really impressive work came from
the student dedication to a social cause that while worthwhile is
easy to forget in the day-to-day concerns of being a student.

Those who participated in or helped the UC Divestment Taskforce
reach its goal deserve hearty commendation. They have made an
impact on the world stage, and more locally their success
reinvigorates the drive for student activism and ability to create
meaningful change.