Event Details:

In commemoration of the 40th anniversary of Michigan State University's decision to divest from companies doing business with apartheid South Africa, MSU is holding a conference on September 27th and 28th on "Campus Activisim for Justice, from Southern Africa to Michigan." 

Speakers from both South Africa and the United States will look back at the campaigns for justice which led to the successful MSU Board of Trustees decision to divest (resulting in MSU becoming the first university in the nation to completely divest and the subsequent State of Michigan passing more sanctions on South Africa than any other state). The conference will put the divestment campaign into the larger context of campus movements that came before it, including activism at MSU by African Americans, women, and those opposed to the war in Vietnam. Campus activists from South Africa and MSU will also discuss some of today's student movements focused on such issues as global justice, responsible employment practices and the environment.

Special guests from South Africa will include MSU Alum Dr. Somadoda Fikeni, and Nomzamo Ntombela. Dr. Fikeni is a leading political commentator on the radio, TV and the printed press, on contemporary political issues in South Africa and is a contributing consultant to the BBC. He has held academic positions at Walter Sisulu University and at the University of South Africa (UNISA). Dr. Fikeni, who earned an MSU PhD in Political Science, was involved in political protest in South Africa before he arrived at MSU. He will share his experiences as a student activist in the 1980s in South Africa.

In 2017, Ms. Ntombela was elected Chairperson of the Student Representative Council at Stellenbosch University.

The daylong conference on Friday, September 28th will be preceded on Thursday, September 27th with the Eye on Africa lecture, 12:00p.m. - 1:30p.m. in Rm 201 International Center. An evening lecture will be held featuring South African Consul General Phumzile Mazibuko.

All events on Thursday (except the Eye on Africa noon lecture) and the daylong conference on Friday are at the MSU Main Library and are free and open to the public.

Sponsors: African Studies Center, MSU Libraries

Co-Sponsors: VP Student Affairs and Services, Assoc Prov for U Outreach and Engagement, Office of Inclusion and Inter-cultural Affairs; Colleges of-- Social Science, James Madison, Law, Arts and Letters, Education; Departments of History, Sociology; MATRIX

Registration is strongly encouraged.

Please follow this link to register:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1o_l7_7if-cP5MU7F43q6cY5NgL-RYVL-f4JIkirOXV8/viewform?edit_requested=true

or visit the website https://bookings.lib.msu.edu/event/4341660

Date: Thursday, September 27, 2018

- Eye on Africa lecture by Dr. Somadoda Fikeni, noon - 1:30pm, Room 201 International Center

- Evening lecture by South African Consul General Phumzile Mazibuko, and reception – 6 – 8:30 pm, Green Room

(Main Library: 4 West)

Date: Friday, September 28, 2018 - All day conference, 8:00am - 5:00pm Location: Green Room

(Main Library: 4 West)