Monitor needed to ensure campus is 'sweat free'
By Leana Donofrio
Daily Kent Stater
If Kent State clothing is made in sweatshops, the university is going to try to make sure it stops.
A code of conduct has been created and approved which adds Kent State's voice to the "sweat free" clothing campaign.
Student groups like the Coalition for a Humane And New Global Economy have been putting pressure on administration to make Kent State a "sweat free" campus, meaning any clothing and merchandise with the Kent State logo could not be produced under inhumane conditions or in sweat shops.
In November the administration formed a committee headed by University Counsel James Watson and launched a three-phase plan to create a code of conduct for clothing vendors and hire a compliance, or monitory company to ensure the code is followed.
The first phase is over, and for the past few months a group made up of faculty and students has been trying to make phase two a reality. The group had to create a code of conduct and find a monitory company and propose it to President Carol Cartwright, who would give the final approval to put the code into action.
Benjamin Newberry, professor of psychology, said at last night's open forum on the code, "I just want to get this thing passed so the university has a chance to finally make a difference."
Although Watson said the approval would have to come after the last meeting, which was held yesterday, Cartwright actually read the proposed code as soon as it was done and approved it.
Members of CHANGE who have been protesting, speaking and educating on the topic of sweatshops for the past two semesters, were clearly excited about the code.
"Thank you so much," Oren Casdi, a member of CHANGE said to committee members. "We are doing good."
The code deals with wages of workers, benefits they should receive, working hours, child labor, forced labor, health, safety, discrimination, harassment and abuse.
The code deals with controversial topics like forced abortions and birth control in factories; things which are reported to be done to in sweatshops.
The code states Kent State's ethical stance on the issue.
"Licensees will be committed in the conduct of their business to set ethical standards, which include, but are by no means limited to honest, integrity, trustworthiness, and respect for the unique intrinsic value of each human being."
But as Watson said, "A code is no good with out someone to enforce it".
This is where a monitoring company would come in. They are groups that watch, inspect and report on the factories where products are made for corporations and universities.
Two major monitoring companies, the Workers Rights Consortium and the Fair Labor Association, were both proposed to be hired.
But after backlash from students who strongly disagreed with hiring the FLA because of its association with companies like Nike, the committee decided to only hire the WRC and, "look into other compliance (monitoring) companies," Watson said.
Casdi talked to the committee at length about the FLA, saying they are simply a cover up for corporations and don't really report labor abuse.
Newberry said the committee initially wanted to hire both the FLA and WRC because they could get more information if they had two monitors feeding it to them.
Watson said the code will be sent out to the companies who produce Kent State clothing next week, this includes all athletic uniforms, sweatshirts, hats and anything else with the logo.
He said the companies would be offered a new contract and license.
Watson said they do not expect to lose any business.
"This is not something new, many universities already have these codes."
Raising to the same level as about 350 universities nationwide is something Watson, committee members and students said they are proud of.
"This code adds Kent State's voice, along with other universities, to the message which keeps getting louder and stronger," Watson said. "We are not going to going to permit names of great universities to be put on clothing made under unfit working conditions."