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Path: utzoo!watmath!looking!brad
From: brad@looking.UUCP (Brad Templeton)
Newsgroups: can.politics,net.micro
Subject: To sell software to Capetown U. or not to sell?
Message-ID: <674@looking.UUCP>
Date: Thu, 25-Sep-86 14:01:25 EDT
Article-I.D.: looking.674
Posted: Thu Sep 25 14:01:25 1986
Date-Received: Sun, 28-Sep-86 22:28:47 EDT
Distribution: can
Organization: Looking Glass Software Ltd. Waterloo, Ontario
Lines: 29
Xref: watmath can.politics:1030 net.micro:15627

I got a call today from a travelling professor from the University of
Capetown, South Africa.

They had had difficulty importing a programming environment I make
called ALICE Pascal.  He wanted to know if I could help.

At first, I said I didn't wish to sell my software to within South Africa.

He then pointed out that this particular university was a champion against
apartheid, and in fact had recently won the right to admit non-white students.
He further said that due to the poorer education offered young blacks in
the public school system, they were allowed admission without the same
academic requirements and given special courses to bring them up to the
level of the white public education.  He said he would send me information
on the University's fight, including documentation on how the government
contstantly tries to interfere with the anti-aparteid factions there.

So two questions arise.

1) How can one verify that this is the truth?

2) If it is, should a refusal to sell to South Africans be general, or
should you make exceptions where you can?

I want my software to assist in the education of as many as possible, but
at the same time I don't want to help educate one race group at the expense
of another.  Comments?  What would you do if it were your software?
-- 
Brad Templeton, Looking Glass Software Ltd. - Waterloo, Ontario 519/884-7473