Activists descended on Johnson Hall on Wednesday to push the University to end its association with a garment manufacturer they say violates international labor codes.
Step Up, Oregon!, the local chapter of United Students Against Sweatshops, accuses garment manufacturer Russell Athletic of closing down a factory in Honduras to stifle a labor union. Russell, which produces sweatshirts bearing the University’s logo, has lost commercial agreements with 64 colleges and universities and the Duck Store since USAS made its allegations.
Campus activists are pushing the University to do the same. During Wednesday’s protest, they presented administration officials with a letter outlining their argument for doing so and met with University President Dave Frohnmayer afterward to air their concerns.
At their brief meeting in Friendly Hall, Frohnmayer told the group he had not had time to read their letter and he would not evaluate their argument until he had given University attorneys a chance to rule on it.
“I’m not going to be my own lawyer on this,” he said.
Administrators said the University cannot end its relationship with Russell because of an Oregon University System policy that prevents universities from making commercial agreements based on labor codes of conduct. The policy allows the University to base decisions only on economic performance, lawbreaking or other specific criteria.
The anti-sweatshop activists said they oppose the OUS policy, but believe the University can still end its association with Russell under its terms.
“If those are the avenues we have to take, then that’s what we’re going to do,” said Isabella Valderrama, co-founder of Step Up, Oregon!
To that end, Valderrama, co-founder Mariah Thompson and Emerald columnist Matt Petryni presented an alternative reasoning for cutting the contract. They argued that Russell’s behavior constitutes lawbreaking and could damage the University economically.
“The University has, I think, a responsibility to protect its trademark from being used in ways that are illegal at the very least,” Petryni said.
Thompson, Petryni and Valderrama told Frohnmayer they believe Russell’s activities in Honduras constitute lawbreaking, which would be reason for ending the contract. They also argued that the damage to Russell’s reputation from the boycotts would economically damage the University.
Frohnmayer said he understands the argument, but will not make a decision until he consults University lawyers.
The students had asked Frohnmayer to appear at the protest to hear their concerns, but University administrators said the president was too busy. Before the meeting, Frohnmayer attended an entire University Senate meeting, and he said he later had to attend an event at the Many Nations Longhouse.
Nevertheless, the students called the protest a success. The event began at the EMU Survival Center, where 40 protesters assembled, then marched to the administration building. Once there, protestors chanted and Thompson, Valderrama and Petryni made speeches through megaphones, drawing spectators and television crews.
“It was highly successful. We showed our presence and raised awareness, which is the most important thing,” Valderrama said.
Protestors told Frohnmayer to respond by Monday. Frohnmayer said he wants “the latitude to have a sensible reaction to (them) in a timely way.” The students declined to comment on what would happen next if the University didn’t respond.
“We do not want to let slip what we’re going to be doing,” Thompson said.
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