Students give input on manufacturing code of conduct

By Leana Donofrio

Daily Kent Stater

Members of the Fair Working Conditions Committee met with students last night to discuss the code of conduct being developed for manufacturers of Kent State clothing.

The committee is part of a three-phase plan started in November to create a code of conduct so Kent State clothes are not produced in sweatshops.

A handful of students attended the forum to speak with committee members. The committee is comprised of both faculty and students, along with University Counsel James Watson. Watson will propose the results of the committee meetings to President Carol Cartwright.

Most students simply asked for clarification to parts of the code, while others argued over what monitoring company the university would hire to enforce the code of conduct.

As the code is now, the university would hire the Fair Labor Association and the Workers Rights Consortium, both monitoring companies that enforce labor codes for corporations and universities.

Oren Casdi, a member of the Coalition for a Human And New Global Economy, said he worries that Fair Labor Association is only a cover-up monitoring company for corporations, and he doesn't think the university should be affiliated with them. Casdi pointed out that the association is the monitoring company for Nike, which he said is known for its labor abuse.

The final meeting to discuss the code this semester is tomorrow at 1:30 p.m. in the Board of Trustees Conference Room located on the second floor of the library. This meeting is open to the public and anyone can come to speak.

People can also make suggestions, comments or view the code at www.kent.edu/fairworking/.

Watson said the committee will take all suggestions into consideration.

He said if the committee does not agree on a final draft of the code to send to Cartwright for approval, it will continue to work on it next semester.