Lawrence G. Foster, a member of the University's Board of Trustees, declined his recent nomination for re-election, saying that "it's time to make room for others" after serving a nine-year term.

Foster, Johnson and Johnson's corporate vice president for public relations, said he will remain active within the University by continuing to chair the Penn State Libraries Development Advisory Board.

Student Trustee Christina M. Henke said Foster has been a strong force on the board whose presence will be greatly missed.

"I think it's admirable that Mr. Foster is making room for others to serve on the board," said Henke, who announced last month that she would resign in June, a year before her three-year term expires.

As the issue to divest University holdings in South Africa raged across campus, Foster stood out as the lone dissenting voice during the board's Fall 1987 vote to divest. An American corporate presence would better help the black people of South Africa, he said at the time.

Obie Snider, who was the board's chairman during the vote, said the board divested not to appease the students' cries for morality or to appease, but "to bring unity to a divided board."

At the time, Foster said unity for the board was not a justifiable reason for compromising his convictions toward the issue of divestment.

"American companies have given blacks in South Africa their first taste of democracy in action and their first hope for the future."

Henke, who presented the logic behind divestment to several board members before the board's vote, said she was unable to discuss the issue with Foster.

"But I know that he was adamant in his belief that a United States presence would do more for the black people than divestment," she said. "He felt that the wages of the American companies were setting a standard that was higher than other companies."

Snider said Foster did not regard his vote against divestment lightly, but rather considered it a serious moral issue.

"He sincerely felt that an American corporate presence had an effective influence on the social welfare of South Africa," he said. "I admire him for voting his conviction."

Foster was the ideal trustee, Henke said. He was able to steer clear from being sidetracked by one issue, but was willing to provide helpful input on every issue that came before the board, she added.

"He was one of the few trustees who stimulated dialogue during the board meeting," Henke said.

Snider said Foster's professional experience was his most important contribution to the board.

"His professional experience was coupled with an extremely deep-seeded interest in the University," he added. "He'll best be remembered for being an exceptional organizer for Penn State."