PSLM Members Rally Against Sweatshops

Members of the Progressive Student Labor Movement (PSLM) noisily marched across the Yard yesterday to protest the University's role in the production of Harvard insignia clothing in Third World factories.

PSLM timed the rally to precede a meeting in New York today at which officials from several universities will discuss whether to recommend an Ivy League-wide "code of conduct" to regulate the use of sweatshop labor.

The goal of yesterday's 50 PSLM marchers was simple: to meet President Neil L. Rudenstine in his Mass. Hall office and present him with a signed letter of protest and a large fake check for eight cents, the amount a worker in the Dominican Republic earns for every Harvard cap produced.

This plan was spoiled by a locked door.

After the crowd had surged from the Science Center to their destination in the Yard, carrying bullhorns and a sign reading "No Sweat," the students realized that someone in Mass. Hall had locked them out. This technique is standard procedure for student rallies outside the president's office, police said.

The chants soon began: "We want Neil! Open the door!"

The front door eventually did open, prompting a loud roar from the students. Richard Vitale, a detective with the Harvard University Police Department (HUPD), poked his head out and announced that Rudenstine was not in the office.

Daniel M. Hennefeld '99, organizer of the rally for PSLM, presented the letter to Vitale, who promised to deliver it to Rudenstine. The large check was later presented to Allan M. Ryan, Jr., a University lawyer who has been meeting with PSLM and administrators on this Crimson Jonathan P. Williams LOCKED OUT:Members of the Progressive Student Labor Movement protest Harvard's labor policies outside Mass. Hall yesterday. issue since last spring.

Hennefeld attributed the locking of Mass. Hallto the administration's fears of a studenttakeover, similar to the 1969 takeover ofUniversity Hall. "I think that's kind ofindicative of an administration not trusting us somuch," he said.

But HUPD officers assigned to the rally saidMass. Hall's doors are always locked when suchprotests erupt.

"It's not the first time or the last time,"said HUPD officer Bill Chipman. "They have apolicy that they lock the door immediately--theydon't want the place taken over."

Sit-ins protesting the use of sweatshop laborhave erupted on college campuses across the nationin the past few weeks. At Georgetown University,students occupied the president's office for fivedays. At the University of Wisconsin at Madison,protestors held a sit-in for 97 hours. Bothschools eventually acceded to the protestors'demands.

Hennefeld hinted that a future takeover ofMass. Hall wasn't out of the question, predictingmore forceful demonstrations if Ivy League schoolsadopt a sweatshop policy too weak for PSLM.

"Push comes to shove if Harvard adopts andcommits to a weak policy," he said.

PSLM demands that the University establishguidelines that include "full disclosure," whichwould require companies to reveal the locations oftheir factories. With this information, humanrights monitors could investigate potentiallyinhumane working conditions.

Students also want the University to requiremanufacturers to pay a "living wage" to workerswho spend the day stitching "Veritas" ontobaseball caps.

Ryan, the University lawyer involved in thesweatshop discussions, will be Harvard'srepresentative at the Yale Club in New York fortoday's meeting. Those present at the talks willdetermine whether a recommendation for a strict"code of conduct" will go to their respectiveschool presidents, who are ultimately responsiblefor the decision.

Ryan predicted that Harvard would adopt aposition in today's meetings that will pleasegroups like PSLM, but might not fulfill theirgrandest expectations.

"Harvard is very much in favor of a stronganti-sweatshop policy for the Ivy League," hesaid. "It might be we just need to get somethinggoing now...let's do what we can and work on thedetails as we go ahead.

Hennefeld attributed the locking of Mass. Hallto the administration's fears of a studenttakeover, similar to the 1969 takeover ofUniversity Hall. "I think that's kind ofindicative of an administration not trusting us somuch," he said.

But HUPD officers assigned to the rally saidMass. Hall's doors are always locked when suchprotests erupt.

"It's not the first time or the last time,"said HUPD officer Bill Chipman. "They have apolicy that they lock the door immediately--theydon't want the place taken over."

Sit-ins protesting the use of sweatshop laborhave erupted on college campuses across the nationin the past few weeks. At Georgetown University,students occupied the president's office for fivedays. At the University of Wisconsin at Madison,protestors held a sit-in for 97 hours. Bothschools eventually acceded to the protestors'demands.

Hennefeld hinted that a future takeover ofMass. Hall wasn't out of the question, predictingmore forceful demonstrations if Ivy League schoolsadopt a sweatshop policy too weak for PSLM.

"Push comes to shove if Harvard adopts andcommits to a weak policy," he said.

PSLM demands that the University establishguidelines that include "full disclosure," whichwould require companies to reveal the locations oftheir factories. With this information, humanrights monitors could investigate potentiallyinhumane working conditions.

Students also want the University to requiremanufacturers to pay a "living wage" to workerswho spend the day stitching "Veritas" ontobaseball caps.

Ryan, the University lawyer involved in thesweatshop discussions, will be Harvard'srepresentative at the Yale Club in New York fortoday's meeting. Those present at the talks willdetermine whether a recommendation for a strict"code of conduct" will go to their respectiveschool presidents, who are ultimately responsiblefor the decision.

Ryan predicted that Harvard would adopt aposition in today's meetings that will pleasegroups like PSLM, but might not fulfill theirgrandest expectations.

"Harvard is very much in favor of a stronganti-sweatshop policy for the Ivy League," hesaid. "It might be we just need to get somethinggoing now...let's do what we can and work on thedetails as we go ahead.