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Summary

From October 1985 to March 1987, students at Carleton University in Ottawa, Canada, organized a campaign to pressure the university to divest from South Africa due to apartheid. The Carleton Anti-Apartheid Action Group (CAAAG) used petitions, protests, and lobbying to achieve full divestment and a boycott of South African goods. The campaign succeeded when the Board of Governors announced full divestment on March 4, 1987, and a complete boycott on March 20, 1987.

Background

In the mid-1980s, students worldwide led boycott and divestment campaigns against the apartheid government of South Africa. At Carleton University in Ottawa, students formed the Carleton Anti-Apartheid Action Group (CAAAG) in October 1985 after learning of a lecture by South African Ambassador Glen Babb. The goal was to sever all institutional ties to South Africa, including full divestment of the endowment fund and other investments, and a boycott of South African goods [source: nv-database].

What happened

In October 1985, students formed the CAAAG in partnership with OPIRG to push for divestment [source: nv-database]. By spring 1986, the CAAAG convinced the student union (CUSA) to boycott South African goods like food, beer, and cigarettes, using newspaper editorials, leaflets, and meetings to raise awareness [source: nv-database]. In fall 1986, after the administration failed to respond, the CAAAG gathered a petition with over 3,000 signatures [source: nv-database]. On January 26, 1987, 300 students protested outside a Board of Governors meeting, chanting and blockading doors and elevators until police removed them [source: nv-database]. President Beckel then stated he would investigate restrictions, and on March 4, 1987, the Board announced full divestment from South Africa [source: nv-database]. On March 20, 1987, the Board added a complete boycott of South African goods and companies [source: nv-database].

Key people & organizations

  • Carleton Anti-Apartheid Action Group (CAAAG)
  • Ontario Public Research Interest Group (OPIRG)
  • Carleton University Student Union (CUSA)
  • Oxfam
  • International Socialists
  • Augustin Moshi
  • President Beckel
  • Board of Governors (BoG)

Tactics used

The campaign combined lobbying, petitions, and direct action to escalate pressure on the administration. The nonviolent blockade of the Board of Governors meeting forced a response after earlier tactics failed to gain traction. [source: nv-database]

Outcome

Verdict: won.

The campaign achieved all its demands: the university fully divested from South Africa and boycotted South African goods. The CAAAG survived until its mandates were recognized, and the campaign grew from a few students to over 3,000 petition signers and support from the student union [source: nv-database].

Lessons

  • A combination of awareness-raising, petitions, and direct action can escalate pressure on institutional decision-makers.
  • Building alliances with student government and other groups amplifies the campaign’s reach and legitimacy.
  • Nonviolent disruption of key meetings can force a response when other tactics are ignored.

Sources

Disclaimer: Included as a teaching example of campaign craft, not as endorsement.

Sources & verification

  • nv-database — grounding: primary — license: link-only
  • Rewritten: 2026-06-25 via worker_casestudies_v2.py

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