The letters W-R-C have created quite a bit of controversy on the University campus in the past several months.
Last May, in an attempt to quell this controversy, President of the University Senate, Professor James Earl, established a subcommittee to monitor the Worker Rights Consortium. It also will advise the University Senate as it looks over the issue this fall.
“It is a three person committee,” David Frank, the Committe’s Chair, said. “We are expecting some fruitful discussions and through our research we hope to provide the University Senate Committee with guidance on how to handle this debate.”
The committee, which is now being referred to as a University Senate Review Panel, is currently in the process of gathering information and opinions from people associated with the University.
“There is a mailing going on in which the panel is seeking information from alumni and trustees,” Duncan McDonald, vice president for public affairs and development, said.
The goal of the solicitation is to gather the thoughts and concerns people have with the issue.
“It is an invitation designed to encourage people to codify opinions that will be submitted to the Senate for review,” Frank said.
Including the responses from university affiliates, the panel is also researching letters to editors, relevant articles in periodicals, faculty member input and advice from knowledgeable experts in the field.
“We are looking at all of the issues raised and being raised in monitoring products with the University of Oregon insignia,” Frank said.
After the panel has completed their research, they will present the information before the Senate.
“We will probably meet with the Senate sometime during the fall quarter and have a discussion about what we have discovered,” Frank said. “We want the Senate to be able to have a good, clear, rational debate.”
In addition to the panel members learning more about the outside views on the issue, the members themselves said they are also learning the depth of this issue.
“I am discovering how complex this issue really is,” Frank said.