S. African official to talk on campus

South African Ambassador Harry Schwarz, who is scheduled to speak on campus tomorrow, is not expected to provoke any anti-apartheid protests because of his country's recent reforms, organizers said yesterday. Schwarz is expected to talk about political changes in South Africa and how those changes are affecting the country's foreign policy. The speech will take place at 3 p.m. in the Rainey Auditorium at the University Museum. And according to Ashish Rughwani, events coordinator of the International Affairs Association, which is sponsoring the speech, no protests of the ambassador's visit are expected. "I am not expecting any problems because the situation is different there than it was two years ago," Rughwani said. In addition, Black Student League President Jessica Dixon said she did not know of anyone planning to protest the event. But Rughwani added that security has been beefed up and Schwarz will have his own bodyguard. According to Rughwani, the ambassador to the U.S., who is bringing his wife along, will speak for a half hour, and a question and answer period will follow. Many members of the IAA said they are excited about the ambassador's visit and hope the IAA can sponsor more speeches. "I am very excited we are having a speaker from South Africa because of all the changes happening there," said July DeFalco, a former special events coordinator for the IAA. "I hope this kind of thing will continue." Rughwani, who is in charge of the event, said it was easy to persuade the ambassador to speak at the University. "I asked him to come, and he said, 'Okay,' " Rughwani said. This event will be the first in a series of speeches made by visiting ambassadors to the University. In February, the IAA plans to sponsor a speech by the ambassador from Yugoslavia, and next semester the ambassador from Israel is scheduled to make an appearance at the University. "The series will increase political awareness and bring up the dormant name of the IAA," Rughwani said. "Previously this has not been done." The IAA is best known for its model United Nations sessions, but DeFalco said the IAA is ready to "branch out" and sponsor more events similar to the ambassador's visit.