Tuesday, Oct. 29, 1996

F.W. de Klerk to address anti-apartheid at Jordan Center

By MOLLY K. FELLIN
Collegian Staff Writer

His father and grandfather helped to erect the policy of apartheid in South Africa. His efforts to break down the policy and create democracy in that country earned him a 1993 Nobel Peace Prize. And at 8 p.m. tonight he will speak at The Bryce Jordan Center.

" Some have said if he really was anti-apartheid he would have made steps to bring down apartheid much sooner. I can understand why they would feel that way - I suggest to them to come to the speech and participate in the question and answer session after it because it is important for all sides of the issue to be addressed."

- Shana Lourie
publicity chair for the Programming Coordination Board

Former South Africa President F.W. de Klerk will lecture at the center as a part of the Penn State Distinguished Speakers Series, sponsored by the Programming Coordination Board.

Blacks make up about 75 percent of the population in South Africa, and until the early 1990s, the segregation of blacks and whites was common practice there. The majority of the population - the blacks - were oppressed by the minority whites. After years of defending apartheid, De Klerk began working with current South Africa President Nelson Mandela to destroy apartheid. Their efforts won them the 1993 Nobel Peace Prize.

Shana Lourie, publicity chair for the Programming Coordination Board said De Klerk's staff approached the committee about speaking at the University as part of his current national speaking tour.

"We thought he would be really important to bring to the University because he was so influential in the downfall of apartheid," Lourie said.

Some students have voiced concerns about De Klerk, she added, and have been skeptical about his motives during the anti-apartheid movement.

"Some have said if he really was anti-apartheid he would have made steps to bring down apartheid much sooner," she said. "I can understand why they would feel that way - I suggest to them to come to the speech and participate in the question and answer session after it because it is important for all sides of the issue to be addressed."

Nikitra Bailey, president of Black Caucus, said at their general assembly meeting last night that anyone in the group who might want to protest De Klerk's speech should be careful how they do it. She suggested that students go to the speech and ask questions to the leader to promote positive discussion and not violently protest.

Undergraduate Student Government Vice President Ed Kilpela said USG decided to cosponsor De Klerk's speech despite the controversy because De Klerk deserved a chance to express himself before anyone would form opinions about him.

"Our position was rather than boycott the speech and not hear what he had to say, we should allow students to form their own opinions," Kilpela said.