To the Editors of The Crimson:

We regret the decision of CHUL to use the Polaroid ID system for freshman ID cards. Despite Bob Palmer's clever dismissal of the Polaroid involvement and support of the South African regime, we feel compelled to take issue with the candor of his statements.

In 1970 when the Polaroid Revolutionary Worker's Movement (a group of Black workers at Polaroid) formed and challeneged the company's sale of ID systems and film to South Africa. Polaroid's original response was a flat denial of any business or sales of equipment to South Africa. After further pressure and under threat of a boycott, Polaroid admitted publicly through national and international advertising that it had been in business in S.A. since 1938, just one year after incorporation. Polaroid stated that its International Sales `Department had sold 65 identity systems and comparable film to the police regime. PRWM's research further disclosed that Polaroid had begun sales for the apartheid program in 1950 with the passing of the Population Registration Act, which required Africans to carry the 90 page passbook at all times (as well as requiring whites, coloreds and Asians to possess race-identity cards).

These facts have been documented, corroborated and accepted nationally and internationally, and accepted by the United Nations in reports and official stances. Polaroid has used such evasiveness, denials and "spare-part" theory (vis-a-vis many S.A. suppliers) in order to diminish international response to the international boycott called by the PRWM.

The issues that PWRM raised in 1970 remain. South Africa is a police regime that has by law excluded the indigenous people of its land from the basics of survival. The average arrest rate of Africans for passbook violations is over 3,000 per day; the violator is subject to fail, fines, and/or whipping with no trial. The average monthly wage for an African is 7 rand ($9.80). South Africa has the world's largest hanging rate, with 118 executed in 1968 alone. The passbook has been called the pillar of apartheid, the main tool with which the white-ruling clique keeps the African majority under its thumb.

Polaroid's complicity in this system cannot be avoided, and officials of the company certainly are not going to be candid about involvement in an internationally despised system when a large contract is at stake, especially when faced with the recent financial troubles that have confronted Polaroid. However, it is important to note Mr. Palmer's pleasure and pride with the fact that its major distributor "recently tripled the salaries of its 124 black employees." While that is merely a molecule in a bucket, it is also crucial to realize that, because of the racist policies of the government and the white minority, black employees are severely restricted as to the type of job they may hold, and chances for advancement are almost non-existent. No black may ever rise to a position involving supervision of whites, nor are apprenticeship programs open to blacks.

PRWM supports the demands of freedom from repression and for self-determination for the African majority. The winds of change cannot pass by South Africa. We urge your support of the Polaroid boycott, and urge CHUL to reconsider its recent decision in the name of humanity and freedom. Laurie M. Lotspeich '77   David W. Price '77   PRWM/PANIC   [People Against National Identity Cards]

Editor's Note: The CHUL did not decide to use the Polaroid system for freshman I.D. cards. Dean Whitlock made the decision in favor of Polaroid, and CHUL was not consulted until after that decision was finalized.