A Chicago City Council committee yesterday denounced the University of Chicago for maintaining a million-dollar investment in companies that do business with Sudan. The Human Relations Committee approved a non-binding resolution urging the university to divest itself completely of Sudan-related financial interests. Alderman Billy Ocasio accused the school of supporting the Sudanese government's genocidal policies:

Ocasio said the resolution—put forward by Ald. Pat Dowell (3rd), who used to work at the university—is backed by 40 aldermen and could be discussed at the next full City Council meeting.

In 2006, the State of Illinois fully divested its pension plan of any Sudan-related investments in protest of the Khartoum-sanctioned ethnic cleansing of Darfur. Northwestern University and the University of Illinois followed suit.

For several years now, the University of Chicago has been under pressure from the campus chapter of a national group -- Students Take Action Now: Darfur (STAND) -- to divest from its Sudan-related assets. However, the university administration has refused. In a strange defense of U of C's decision, a university spokeswoman pointed out to the Tribune that the school had kept its South African investments during Apartheid.

Well, at least they're consistent ...

The aldermen's denunciation of U of C has prompted some observers, such as the Chicago Reader's Mick Dumke, to ask that the City Council urge city contractors and local corporations to divest as well.

Those interested in listening to audio of the full hearing can do so here.