A rally to support Nike CEO Phil Knight Wednesday morning quickly turned into a mass argument between students wanting to thank Knight for his contributions to the University and protesters who support the Worker Rights Consortium.
Organizers said the rally, which began across the street from Johnson Hall at 10:30 a.m., was not a retaliation against the students who protested outside of Johnson Hall last month in support of the University’s joining the labor monitoring group.
“We’re not here to protest the protesters or debate the WRC,” organizer Christian Papé said. “We hope [Knight] understands that this campus is not against Phil.”
To display their message, Papé and the other organizers sold green “Thank You, Phil” T-shirts, adding to the white “I agree with Phil” shirts made by two sports marketing students earlier in the week.
Papé added they weren’t trying to make a profit off their shirts, which sold for $5 each. By mid-afternoon they had sold about 300 shirts and gathered about 200 signatures for a petition to reverse the March 1 student vote recommending University President Dave Frohnmayer sign onto the WRC, although Papé said they did not know who brought the petition to the rally.
Knight announced April 24 the withdrawal of all his personal contributions from the University after Frohnmayer signed on with the WRC on April 12. Knight’s money included a pledged donation of $30 million to help renovate Autzen Stadium.
A few students who protested for the WRC outside Johnson Hall last month stood there again Wednesday and watched the first half hour of the rally before crossing the street and getting involved.
As the crowd surged to about 60 people, protesters Laura Close and Chad Sullivan argued with Knight supporters on Nike’s labor practices, sweatshop labor and the worthiness of the WRC.
“You guys had your time at the WRC protest,” Papé said to them.
Sullivan replied that the rally skirted the more important labor issues involved with the WRC and Knight’s decision.
“This isn’t a joke. This isn’t funny,” Sullivan said.
Senior geology major Greg Miller and freshman business major Chris Apenbrink, who both skipped the last half of their classes to attend the rally, said they were disappointed it turned into an argument.
“When it started out as a rally to thank Phil, why has it degenerated into an argument over the WRC?” Miller said.
Miller and Apenbrink both debated Close, Sullivan and the other WRC supporters who came by as the morning went on.
“It’s a damned shame that they had to come ruin our rally when we didn’t go over to their protest to mouth off,” Apenbrink said.
Megan Schryvers, another “Thank you Phil” organizer, said she didn’t want their event to get into the political discussion involved in the WRC, but they were prepared for it.
“Whether you agree or disagree, you can say ‘thank you, Phil,’” Schryvers said. “We want Phil Knight to know this is for him first and foremost … but by extension, we hope all donors see our appreciation.”
Patrick Kilkenny is one of those donors. Tuesday, he delivered his letter of resignation from the University Foundation’s Board of Trustees to Board President Randy Papé.
Papé, who is Christian Papé’s father, said Kilkenny sent his letter in response to the University joining the WRC and Knight’s decision. After conversations between the two men, Papé said he thinks Kilkenny might reconsider his decision.
“I’m still waiting for a phone call from him,” he said. “I still remain hopeful [Kilkenny] will remain as a trustee.”
He attended Wednesday’s meeting to support both Knight and his son’s efforts.
I am “a parent observing but also in agreement with what students are doing in application for the tremendous contributions Mr. and Mrs. Knight have made,” he said.
Across the street in front of the administration building, a few WRC supporters watched the crowd grow, and others voiced their varying opinions with signs. Eugene resident Scott Britt, who said he will attend the University this fall, brought his daughter and a sign that read: “I agree with Dave. F.U. Morality before money.”
“I don’t see a lot of wealthy people who would weigh out $50 million and weigh it on morality,” Britt said of Frohnmayer.
A person walking by asked what the “F.U.” meant.
“For United?” Britt said, his answer coming out more like a question. “I don’t know. Interpret it yourself.”