Anti-sweatshop group pushes university to join 'labor friendly' suppliers
Erika Helmerichs
Issue date: 5/1/08 Section: News
United Students Against Sweatshops requests for SIUE's formal affiliation with two workers' rights organizations has been denied after months of petition and student investigation.
Senior Andy Lucker is the organizer for SIUE's division of USAS, a student group that aims to keep all merchandise sold at SIUE sweatshop-free.
"We exist here on campus to raise awareness and make sure that sweatshop conditions do not exist at the university or in a place the university is buying from," Lucker said. "As far as USAS goes, we see sweatshops as existing anyplace that doesn't offer living wage."
Lucker said USAS's primary goal is to get SIUE involved in the Worker Rights Consortium and the Designated Supplies Program, two organizations working to research which manufacturers endorse sweatshop conditions and how universities can choose "labor-friendly" suppliers for things like logo T-shirts, sweatpants and all other items included in places like SIUE's University Bookstore.
Lucker said he has gone through clothing tags in the University Bookstore and seen that a majority of the merchandise was produced in third world countries.
"We can't conclusively know that the university is buying from sweatshops," Lucker said, "but it's probably likely."
Senior Amber Robins said, "If the clothes are made in sweatshops, students at this university have a right to know about it."
USAS first attempted to get SIUE involved with both the WRC and the DSP on March 5, when the group delivered packets of information about the organizations and a letter to SIUE Chancellor Vaughn Vandegrift's office. After no reply, USAS said they checked back on March 20 to confirm Vandegrift received the information.
"We were constantly handed off to different people," Lucker said. "It was ridiculous."
Lucker said both the WRC and the DSP are free organizations, requiring only a signature from SIUE to join.
"We had been working so hard to get this letter ready since January, and all the chancellor had to do was sign it," Robins said.
Senior Andy Lucker is the organizer for SIUE's division of USAS, a student group that aims to keep all merchandise sold at SIUE sweatshop-free.
"We exist here on campus to raise awareness and make sure that sweatshop conditions do not exist at the university or in a place the university is buying from," Lucker said. "As far as USAS goes, we see sweatshops as existing anyplace that doesn't offer living wage."
Lucker said USAS's primary goal is to get SIUE involved in the Worker Rights Consortium and the Designated Supplies Program, two organizations working to research which manufacturers endorse sweatshop conditions and how universities can choose "labor-friendly" suppliers for things like logo T-shirts, sweatpants and all other items included in places like SIUE's University Bookstore.
Lucker said he has gone through clothing tags in the University Bookstore and seen that a majority of the merchandise was produced in third world countries.
"We can't conclusively know that the university is buying from sweatshops," Lucker said, "but it's probably likely."
Senior Amber Robins said, "If the clothes are made in sweatshops, students at this university have a right to know about it."
USAS first attempted to get SIUE involved with both the WRC and the DSP on March 5, when the group delivered packets of information about the organizations and a letter to SIUE Chancellor Vaughn Vandegrift's office. After no reply, USAS said they checked back on March 20 to confirm Vandegrift received the information.
"We were constantly handed off to different people," Lucker said. "It was ridiculous."
Lucker said both the WRC and the DSP are free organizations, requiring only a signature from SIUE to join.
"We had been working so hard to get this letter ready since January, and all the chancellor had to do was sign it," Robins said.
Viewing Comments 1 - 10 of 32
Sandra
posted 5/01/08 @ 10:56 AM CST
It's so great to see SIUE students who care about a cause and are willing to work hard for change.
Now, wouldn't that be "bold"?
posted 5/02/08 @ 1:15 AM CST
That sure would be a move in the right direction: SIUE going public with a statement that they have signed on and support sweatshop-free garments.
In this day and age, we are looking at a "green" future, no matter whether you want it or not. (Continued…)
Kelsey
posted 5/02/08 @ 11:03 AM CST
Does anyone else find it ironic that their is an ad for UnderArmor shoes on this page?
Griffin
posted 5/06/08 @ 10:54 PM CST
Have you checked the clothes you're wearing right now? "Lucker said he has gone through clothing tags in the University Bookstore and seen that a majority of the merchandise was produced in third world countries. (Continued…)
JD
posted 5/07/08 @ 7:11 PM CST
Saying that not buying products from the third world would hurt the third world is just a ridiculous argument. Because US corporations have gone in and monopolized markets, these economies have not had a chance to develop. (Continued…)
@ndrew
andy lucker (USAS)
posted 5/07/08 @ 8:05 PM CST
[QUOTE id="5a631f73-d912-4e08-bf3e-eb6484eef3cf"]Have you checked the clothes you're wearing right now? "Lucker said he has gone through clothing tags in the University Bookstore and seen that a majority of the merchandise was produced in third world countries. (Continued…)
Adam H
posted 5/09/08 @ 10:39 AM CST
So you blame free market capitalism for the failures of government economic interventionism?
Adam H
posted 5/12/08 @ 11:26 AM CST
So you value economic equality for all above liberty and freedom. i do not.
although, i must say I do appreciate consumer groups who make known the practices of organizations to allow me to make better purchasing decisions. (Continued…)
Adam H
posted 5/12/08 @ 4:04 PM CST
calm down, andy. You went from writing an essay laced with twelve dollar words and worthwhile historical context to that tirade...
i interpreted it as you feel the rich are exploiting the workers and not giving them what you feel is a fair wage. (Continued…)
@ndrew
andy lucker
posted 5/13/08 @ 1:21 PM CST
I am sorry if i came off as a bit rash there.
I just get tired of having to refute the same hegemonic assumptions that have been instilled, via lingering McCarthyism, made by every person i talk to about anything economic. (Continued…)
Post a Comment