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MPIRG pushes UMD to change its appearance
BY MIKE McGRATH
STATESMAN STAFF WRITER
iISSUE: 78/26
Students could see a change in clothing and coffee at UMD stores, as MPRIG challenges the campus to sell only 100 percent sweatshop free clothing and Fair Trade coffee, as part of a new campaign they are calling Make the U Fair. UMD student Leah Nelson is a co-chair for MPRIG, and has teamed up with MPRIG chapters at the U of M and Crookston, asking these schools to sign up for the Designated Supplier Program (DSP). “The DSP is under the Workers Rights Consortium that acts as an independent body that monitors the conditions of factories that produce university apparel,” said Nelson.
According to the DSP Web site, they make sure factories pay employees a living wage, follow labor standards and allow workers to unionize without repercussions. “The problem is that we don’t really know if sweatshops are being used,” said Nelson. Nelson explained that their campaign has been approved by the Student Senate in 2007 and will meet with the University senate in April of 2008. If it gets approved, it will move on to the Board of Regents where implementation of the campaign will be discussed.
Ann Pellant has been working as the clothing buyer for UMD stores for the last two years. She purchases clothing from suppliers like Jansport and Champion who do have factories overseas. “I don’t know the actual factories that make the clothing,” said Pellant. “I would like to know if they are using sweatshops, and preferred they didn’t.” Pellant believes the DSP could be a good idea, but it’s up to the suppliers to get involved with the organization and have their factories approved, and if they didn’t, UMD stores would need to find new suppliers. “There wouldn’t be a shortage of other venders to go through; there are a lot, but it is possible prices will go up,” said Pellant.
That is not a problem for UMD senior Dane Benson. He would be happy to pay a higher price if the clothing did not come from a sweatshop. “I don’t want an eight-year-old busting their butt to make my clothes,” said Benson. He doesn’t share the same sympathy for Fair Trade Coffee at UMD. “I would pay extra for it, but would not be happy with it; Fair Trade is cool, but I just want some coffee.” According to the Transfair Web site, Fair Trade coffee offers the farmers and workers a fair price for their products and labor. Auxiliary Services at UMD is responsible for buying and selling food service products on campus.
According to Auxiliary Services Director Joe Michela, Fair Trade coffee is already offered, and he plans to bring in more options for Fair Trade coffee in the future. “We are going to start having a Fair Trade coffee selection every day, but it will cost more,” said Michela. “We’ll put choice down there and that should satisfy MPRIG, but it is not going to be all or nothing because we can’t afford to.” He went on to explain that Fair Trade would not only increase in price but also cut back in selections and flavors.
