Nike CEO Phil Knight’s recent decision to donate money to the University ended a 17-month estrangement, reminding students of the conflict that initially destroyed his trust and caused his disappearance.
Many have not forgotten the famous Johnson Hall protest in April 2000, which pressured University President Dave Frohnmayer to sign on to the Worker Rights Consortium, a labor monitoring group that conflicted with Knight’s interests.
Although students have not seen any tents pitched on the lawn of Johnson Hall lately, the anti-sweatshop movement hasn’t completely lost its momentum on campus, according to students and faculty members involved in past protests. And nationwide, the movement is still going strong, WRC Executive Director Scott Nova said.
But student activist and Survival Center co-coordinator Randy Newnham said the movement and its focus have evolved since he participated in the protests outside Johnson Hall.
“A lot of us were discouraged and many of us have graduated and moved on,” he said. “But I see many new faces and passionate people that are bringing in new perspectives and ideas to the struggle.”
Honors College Director David Frank was chairman of the University Senate ad hoc committee that developed the University’s Licensee Code of Conduct. At the time, he recommended the University join the WRC, and he agrees that membership in the movement has changed, contributing to a decline in activism.
“The fact that two key leaders have graduated and moved on means that new people will have to step forward,” he said.
But neither Frank nor Newnham thinks the labor issue has died, and Frank said it is typical for activism in any movement to fluctuate.
Newnham added that the movement is in the process of reforming.
“I believe there is going to be a resurgence, especially in light of last year’s policy,” he said, referring to the State Board of Higher Education’s policy which effectively prohibited Oregon universities from joining any labor monitoring groups.

“The movement is not going to look the same as previous years because there is a new focus, new people, new ideas and new issues,” he said.
Although the ASUO no longer has worker rights issues at the top of its agenda, ASUO Vice President Joy Nair said the issue is “something that will always be very important to us.”
Nair added that just because there haven’t been any recent protests, that does not mean students are apathetic to the issue. The anit-sweatshop activism increased awareness on campus about sweatshops, she said.
Nationwide, the movement has continued to grow, Nova said. A year ago, 40 universities signed onto the WRC, which has increased to 85 universities, he said.
He added that it is difficult to say whether conditions in Nike’s factories have improved because the monitoring is not in place. But Nike has been more aggressive in improving conditions because of pressure from universities nationwide, he said.
Newnham agreed that student activism has pushed corporations into making some improvements, adding that the movement extends far beyond just the University.
“What we did here in spring of 2000 was part of a much larger wave,” he said.” Just because students aren’t currently involved isn’t such a big deal because it’s not just us.”
Nova said that right now the movement is still in its beginning stages, and he is optimistic about the future.
“Concern among consumers will grow. A commitment to improving conditions will grow,” he said. “As a result, we will see positive change. I feel very optimistic about the movement as a whole, which includes students, consumers, colleges and universities — and the public in general.”