At around 11:30 this morning, eleven students from the Stanford Sweat-Free Coalition began a sit-in in President Hennessy's office to protest what they call "Stanford's inaction on sweatshops."
As of 3:30pm this afternoon, all the students were still sitting there, accompanied by moral supporters outside the office building.
According to an article on the San Francisco Chronicle's website, University officials today said they "agreed" with the students' point and were "working on a plan to ensure Stanford gear is produced in responsible factories."
According to the group's website, the students have been prevented from using the private bathrooms in the Office: "The cops are going upstairs to pee, while we are forced to hold it. They told us that there are public toilets outside, but we cannot be let back in. We are prepared to pee in our pants."
Did this officer get to pee inside?
Emails circulated on various Stanford lists say Sweat Free's schedule for the rest of the day includes a Solidarity Rally at 4:30pm in the Main Quad and a "Sweat-Free Teach-In" at 6pm in Bldg. 240.
Two of their signs:
Materials for a protest
Comments (1)
I don't know very much about this issue. From what I can tell from the "Sweat-Free Stanford Campaign" website, the aim of this effort is to compel the university to join the Workers Rights Consortium (WRC) and the Designated Suppliers Program (DSP).
Is there any concrete evidence that Stanford apparel is currently manufactured in sweatshops? Moreover, what impact would joining these organizations have? Why might Pres. Hennessy have chosen, thus far, to avoid such affiliations?
Not being a part of a special-interest organization does not mean that you are acting contrary to that organization's values. Hard evidence that aims to convince the Stanford community that membership in the WRC and DSP would be beneficial should be a core component of the platform this campaign publishes.
Posted by P | May 22, 2007 3:55 PM
Posted on May 22, 2007 15:55