Letter of Support: Cameron Morgan, Alumni

Esteemed Board of Directors,

I am writing you today as a proud alumnus and supporter of Weber State University. Weber State helped prepare me for my professional career academically and ethically. My ethical foundation was primarily developed by my participation in human rights-supportive causes on campus. I was proud to found the Weber State chapter of STAND in early 2007. STAND’s events on campus helped generate awareness of atrocities in Africa and elsewhere, and it is in that spirit that I write you today.

Computers, cell-phones and I-pods are so ubiquitous on campus, that it would be easy to believe they were mandatory school supplies. These items contain traces of tin, tantalum, tungsten and gold. The problem is that some of those minerals have invariably originated in militia-controlled mines in the Eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo. The aforementioned minerals are, to some extent, the fuel to the conflict that has led to tens of thousands of rapes and millions of deaths in that region.  Dozens of militias fight over the minerals-enslaving local Congolese and killing or raping anybody who stands in their way. The Congolese people benefit little from this trade, as most of the profit is funneled off to the militias and to multi-national corporations.  It is clear that American multi-national corporations, and institutions such as Weber State, who tend to be major buyers of products containing the aforementioned minerals, have a role to play in stopping this war.

How can you, a member of the Board of Directors, influence the horrific atrocities in the DRC? A vote for a conflict-free campus is a good start. WSU students, faculty and staff deserve to know that the materials they use at WSU are free from these illegitimately-obtained minerals. A vote for a conflict-free campus begins with increasing transparency in the process by which WSU purchases electronics, i.e. knowing where Weber State’s electronics suppliers get their base minerals. WSU can encourage its suppliers to source its minerals from legitimate mines that benefit the Congolese people. The Securities and Exchanges Commission helps to determine which mines fit this category.  Additionally, the Board of Directors can also pass a resolution condemning the violence in the DRC.

Taking steps to ameliorate the crises in the DRC would be commensurate with the high moral and academic character of Weber State. I hope the Board will take the steps necessary to ensure that WSU is part of the solution to a near intractable conflict.

Thank you for taking the time to read this letter. You can learn more about conflict minerals and the connected war in the DRC here: http://www.raisehopeforcongo.org/

Best,

Richard Cameron Morgan

Psychology Major

Class of 2010