PSLM

In the wake of sit-ins at other colleges and increased anger at the lack of progess in negotiations with the University, members of the Progressive Student Labor Movement (PSLM) sent a letter to University President Neil L. Rudenstine last Thursday demanding that the school adopt an anti-sweatshop code of conduct.

"We've basically given the Ivy presidents an ultimatum with that letter," said PSLM member Daniel M. Hennefeld '99.

The letter, which was sent to the presidents of all the Ivy League schools, asks the schools to revise their labor code so that manufacturers are required to disclose the location of their factories and non-governmental organizations inspect work conditions.

The letter also demands that the universities allow students to participate in the implementation of a labor code and calls on the schools to study the issue of paying a living wage to factory workers.

Members said they are taking their demands directly to Rudenstine because other efforts to negotiate with the University have failed.

"We feel betrayed and we feel left out," said PSLM member Benjamin O. Shuldiner '99. "After negotiating, after a year of this, we need to go to the president."

Members suggest that if Rudenstine does not respond to their demands by March 8, they may consider more drastic action.

"There's a faculty meeting on [March 9] and we've taken note of that," said PSLM member Benjamin L. McKean '02.

Shuldiner said sit-ins have already proven effective at Duke, Georgetown, and the University of Wisconsin at Madison, where protesters have won concessions from the schools.

"Those universities were taken over by their students, but within three days of the takeovers, all three of those universities have signed codes of conduct or letters saying they will," he said.

But Harvard University is making no promises regarding the demands.

"This particular letter raises a number of issues that I think [Rudenstine] will want to respond to or have me respond to," said Allan A. Ryan, Jr., an attorney in the University's Office of the General Counsel who has served as Harvard's chief negotiator on this issue.

"But the date of March 8 is just a couple of days before the next Ivy meeting on this, so it may not be by that deadline," he added.

According to Ryan, the University is unlikely to negotiate a separate agreement on labor policies with PSLM until the Ivy League schools decide whether to take some sort of uniform action on the issue.

And he is non-commital about students' specific demands.

"Students have changed my thinking and [Rudenstine]'s thinking on some issues," he said. "Whether they will change it on every issue they want to change it, we'll have to wait and see."

But while Ryan stressed that students have been included in negotiations, PSLM members said they are being ignored.

Shuldiner said the University scrapped a year's worth of collaboration between Harvard and PSLM when other Ivy League schools decided they wanted to create a shared code.

"The Ivy League got together and decided they wanted to make their own code, and all the negotiations we had done for years went out the window," Shuldiner said.

Friends in High Places

While PSLM members do not rule out sit-ins and allude to "direct action" if the University does not accede to their demands, they also say public pressure will be key to their campaign.

Twenty-four Congressional representatives, including minority House leader Richard A. Gephardt (D-Mo.) and David E. Bonior (D-Mich.) signed a letter expressing "strong support" for the efforts of PSLM and other protestors of sweatshop labor.

"Your recent protests have drawn important attention to the fact that some codes of conduct...do not meet all the criteria that you believe are necessary to ensure that university licensed apparel is not made in sweatshops," the letter reads.

"I think what the students are saying is 'we expect you to follow through on your words,'" said Daniel Weiss, chief of staff to Congressman George Miller (D-Calif.), who authored the letter.

Miller also sponsored a resolution urging colleges and universities to adopt strong codes of conduct, which passed through Congress last year.

PSLM members say they are optimistic that national momentum will ultimately drive their movement to success.

"The only way to get the administration to act is through public influence and influence on Harvard's image, so I think that having 20 congressmen say this is the right thing to do is a powerful statement," McKean said.

The letter, which was sent to the presidents of all the Ivy League schools, asks the schools to revise their labor code so that manufacturers are required to disclose the location of their factories and non-governmental organizations inspect work conditions.

The letter also demands that the universities allow students to participate in the implementation of a labor code and calls on the schools to study the issue of paying a living wage to factory workers.

Members said they are taking their demands directly to Rudenstine because other efforts to negotiate with the University have failed.

"We feel betrayed and we feel left out," said PSLM member Benjamin O. Shuldiner '99. "After negotiating, after a year of this, we need to go to the president."

Members suggest that if Rudenstine does not respond to their demands by March 8, they may consider more drastic action.

"There's a faculty meeting on [March 9] and we've taken note of that," said PSLM member Benjamin L. McKean '02.

Shuldiner said sit-ins have already proven effective at Duke, Georgetown, and the University of Wisconsin at Madison, where protesters have won concessions from the schools.

"Those universities were taken over by their students, but within three days of the takeovers, all three of those universities have signed codes of conduct or letters saying they will," he said.

But Harvard University is making no promises regarding the demands.

"This particular letter raises a number of issues that I think [Rudenstine] will want to respond to or have me respond to," said Allan A. Ryan, Jr., an attorney in the University's Office of the General Counsel who has served as Harvard's chief negotiator on this issue.

"But the date of March 8 is just a couple of days before the next Ivy meeting on this, so it may not be by that deadline," he added.

According to Ryan, the University is unlikely to negotiate a separate agreement on labor policies with PSLM until the Ivy League schools decide whether to take some sort of uniform action on the issue.

And he is non-commital about students' specific demands.

"Students have changed my thinking and [Rudenstine]'s thinking on some issues," he said. "Whether they will change it on every issue they want to change it, we'll have to wait and see."

But while Ryan stressed that students have been included in negotiations, PSLM members said they are being ignored.

Shuldiner said the University scrapped a year's worth of collaboration between Harvard and PSLM when other Ivy League schools decided they wanted to create a shared code.

"The Ivy League got together and decided they wanted to make their own code, and all the negotiations we had done for years went out the window," Shuldiner said.

Friends in High Places

While PSLM members do not rule out sit-ins and allude to "direct action" if the University does not accede to their demands, they also say public pressure will be key to their campaign.

Twenty-four Congressional representatives, including minority House leader Richard A. Gephardt (D-Mo.) and David E. Bonior (D-Mich.) signed a letter expressing "strong support" for the efforts of PSLM and other protestors of sweatshop labor.

"Your recent protests have drawn important attention to the fact that some codes of conduct...do not meet all the criteria that you believe are necessary to ensure that university licensed apparel is not made in sweatshops," the letter reads.

"I think what the students are saying is 'we expect you to follow through on your words,'" said Daniel Weiss, chief of staff to Congressman George Miller (D-Calif.), who authored the letter.

Miller also sponsored a resolution urging colleges and universities to adopt strong codes of conduct, which passed through Congress last year.

PSLM members say they are optimistic that national momentum will ultimately drive their movement to success.

"The only way to get the administration to act is through public influence and influence on Harvard's image, so I think that having 20 congressmen say this is the right thing to do is a powerful statement," McKean said.

Members suggest that if Rudenstine does not respond to their demands by March 8, they may consider more drastic action.

"There's a faculty meeting on [March 9] and we've taken note of that," said PSLM member Benjamin L. McKean '02.

Shuldiner said sit-ins have already proven effective at Duke, Georgetown, and the University of Wisconsin at Madison, where protesters have won concessions from the schools.

"Those universities were taken over by their students, but within three days of the takeovers, all three of those universities have signed codes of conduct or letters saying they will," he said.

But Harvard University is making no promises regarding the demands.

"This particular letter raises a number of issues that I think [Rudenstine] will want to respond to or have me respond to," said Allan A. Ryan, Jr., an attorney in the University's Office of the General Counsel who has served as Harvard's chief negotiator on this issue.

"But the date of March 8 is just a couple of days before the next Ivy meeting on this, so it may not be by that deadline," he added.

According to Ryan, the University is unlikely to negotiate a separate agreement on labor policies with PSLM until the Ivy League schools decide whether to take some sort of uniform action on the issue.

And he is non-commital about students' specific demands.

"Students have changed my thinking and [Rudenstine]'s thinking on some issues," he said. "Whether they will change it on every issue they want to change it, we'll have to wait and see."

But while Ryan stressed that students have been included in negotiations, PSLM members said they are being ignored.

Shuldiner said the University scrapped a year's worth of collaboration between Harvard and PSLM when other Ivy League schools decided they wanted to create a shared code.

"The Ivy League got together and decided they wanted to make their own code, and all the negotiations we had done for years went out the window," Shuldiner said.

Friends in High Places

While PSLM members do not rule out sit-ins and allude to "direct action" if the University does not accede to their demands, they also say public pressure will be key to their campaign.

Twenty-four Congressional representatives, including minority House leader Richard A. Gephardt (D-Mo.) and David E. Bonior (D-Mich.) signed a letter expressing "strong support" for the efforts of PSLM and other protestors of sweatshop labor.

"Your recent protests have drawn important attention to the fact that some codes of conduct...do not meet all the criteria that you believe are necessary to ensure that university licensed apparel is not made in sweatshops," the letter reads.

"I think what the students are saying is 'we expect you to follow through on your words,'" said Daniel Weiss, chief of staff to Congressman George Miller (D-Calif.), who authored the letter.

Miller also sponsored a resolution urging colleges and universities to adopt strong codes of conduct, which passed through Congress last year.

PSLM members say they are optimistic that national momentum will ultimately drive their movement to success.

"The only way to get the administration to act is through public influence and influence on Harvard's image, so I think that having 20 congressmen say this is the right thing to do is a powerful statement," McKean said.

Shuldiner said sit-ins have already proven effective at Duke, Georgetown, and the University of Wisconsin at Madison, where protesters have won concessions from the schools.

"Those universities were taken over by their students, but within three days of the takeovers, all three of those universities have signed codes of conduct or letters saying they will," he said.

But Harvard University is making no promises regarding the demands.

"This particular letter raises a number of issues that I think [Rudenstine] will want to respond to or have me respond to," said Allan A. Ryan, Jr., an attorney in the University's Office of the General Counsel who has served as Harvard's chief negotiator on this issue.

"But the date of March 8 is just a couple of days before the next Ivy meeting on this, so it may not be by that deadline," he added.

According to Ryan, the University is unlikely to negotiate a separate agreement on labor policies with PSLM until the Ivy League schools decide whether to take some sort of uniform action on the issue.

And he is non-commital about students' specific demands.

"Students have changed my thinking and [Rudenstine]'s thinking on some issues," he said. "Whether they will change it on every issue they want to change it, we'll have to wait and see."

But while Ryan stressed that students have been included in negotiations, PSLM members said they are being ignored.

Shuldiner said the University scrapped a year's worth of collaboration between Harvard and PSLM when other Ivy League schools decided they wanted to create a shared code.

"The Ivy League got together and decided they wanted to make their own code, and all the negotiations we had done for years went out the window," Shuldiner said.

Friends in High Places

While PSLM members do not rule out sit-ins and allude to "direct action" if the University does not accede to their demands, they also say public pressure will be key to their campaign.

Twenty-four Congressional representatives, including minority House leader Richard A. Gephardt (D-Mo.) and David E. Bonior (D-Mich.) signed a letter expressing "strong support" for the efforts of PSLM and other protestors of sweatshop labor.

"Your recent protests have drawn important attention to the fact that some codes of conduct...do not meet all the criteria that you believe are necessary to ensure that university licensed apparel is not made in sweatshops," the letter reads.

"I think what the students are saying is 'we expect you to follow through on your words,'" said Daniel Weiss, chief of staff to Congressman George Miller (D-Calif.), who authored the letter.

Miller also sponsored a resolution urging colleges and universities to adopt strong codes of conduct, which passed through Congress last year.

PSLM members say they are optimistic that national momentum will ultimately drive their movement to success.

"The only way to get the administration to act is through public influence and influence on Harvard's image, so I think that having 20 congressmen say this is the right thing to do is a powerful statement," McKean said.

"But the date of March 8 is just a couple of days before the next Ivy meeting on this, so it may not be by that deadline," he added.

According to Ryan, the University is unlikely to negotiate a separate agreement on labor policies with PSLM until the Ivy League schools decide whether to take some sort of uniform action on the issue.

And he is non-commital about students' specific demands.

"Students have changed my thinking and [Rudenstine]'s thinking on some issues," he said. "Whether they will change it on every issue they want to change it, we'll have to wait and see."

But while Ryan stressed that students have been included in negotiations, PSLM members said they are being ignored.

Shuldiner said the University scrapped a year's worth of collaboration between Harvard and PSLM when other Ivy League schools decided they wanted to create a shared code.

"The Ivy League got together and decided they wanted to make their own code, and all the negotiations we had done for years went out the window," Shuldiner said.

Friends in High Places

While PSLM members do not rule out sit-ins and allude to "direct action" if the University does not accede to their demands, they also say public pressure will be key to their campaign.

Twenty-four Congressional representatives, including minority House leader Richard A. Gephardt (D-Mo.) and David E. Bonior (D-Mich.) signed a letter expressing "strong support" for the efforts of PSLM and other protestors of sweatshop labor.

"Your recent protests have drawn important attention to the fact that some codes of conduct...do not meet all the criteria that you believe are necessary to ensure that university licensed apparel is not made in sweatshops," the letter reads.

"I think what the students are saying is 'we expect you to follow through on your words,'" said Daniel Weiss, chief of staff to Congressman George Miller (D-Calif.), who authored the letter.

Miller also sponsored a resolution urging colleges and universities to adopt strong codes of conduct, which passed through Congress last year.

PSLM members say they are optimistic that national momentum will ultimately drive their movement to success.

"The only way to get the administration to act is through public influence and influence on Harvard's image, so I think that having 20 congressmen say this is the right thing to do is a powerful statement," McKean said.

"Your recent protests have drawn important attention to the fact that some codes of conduct...do not meet all the criteria that you believe are necessary to ensure that university licensed apparel is not made in sweatshops," the letter reads.

"I think what the students are saying is 'we expect you to follow through on your words,'" said Daniel Weiss, chief of staff to Congressman George Miller (D-Calif.), who authored the letter.

Miller also sponsored a resolution urging colleges and universities to adopt strong codes of conduct, which passed through Congress last year.

PSLM members say they are optimistic that national momentum will ultimately drive their movement to success.

"The only way to get the administration to act is through public influence and influence on Harvard's image, so I think that having 20 congressmen say this is the right thing to do is a powerful statement," McKean said.

Miller also sponsored a resolution urging colleges and universities to adopt strong codes of conduct, which passed through Congress last year.

PSLM members say they are optimistic that national momentum will ultimately drive their movement to success.

"The only way to get the administration to act is through public influence and influence on Harvard's image, so I think that having 20 congressmen say this is the right thing to do is a powerful statement," McKean said.