After a two-hour meeting Tuesday between university officials and representatives from Students for Economic Justice, Ethan Smith said he would have stayed much longer to push MSU to join the Worker Rights Consortium.
“I would have stayed all night if I had to,” said Smith, a forestry senior. “There was such a lack of communication and the administration needs to listen to the students.”
Before the meeting began, more than 20 students from SEJ, MSU’s student-led movement to improve labor conditions for workers in other factories, protested outside the Administration Building with posters and signs saying “stop slavery” and “support the WRC.”
Earlier this month, ASMSU - the university’s undergraduate student government - sided with Students For Economic Justice in its crusade to push the MSU administration to drop out of the Fair Labor Association and join the Worker Rights Consortium.
Established by students and human rights activists, the consortium appoints independent monitors to supervise labor conditions in overseas factories where MSU apparel is produced.
“Our big thing now is that students support us,” said SEJ member and chemistry junior Tessa Fojut. “Today’s meeting is the same as others, only this time ASMSU is on our side.
“But I can’t say that I have a positive outlook and we can’t assume anything.”
At the meeting’s closure, MSU President M. Peter McPherson said the Fair Labor Association is still MSU’s best choice. SEJ criticizes the association for being too lenient in terms of its rules concerning human rights for factory workers.
“Our conversation was really extensive, and I am really glad we met with the students,” McPherson said. “Everyone’s primary goal is to change the working conditions, and I believe intently there is a difference in tactics in how to do that.”
McPherson said the association is not perfect, but he believes it has made more progress in changing worker conditions.
“The FLA has ways it can systematically engage companies who are producing merchandise,” he said. “That method was why companies including Nike agreed to disclosing their factory locations.
“It’s a dynamic situation that will continue to change but I feel it’s more prudent to continue to be part of the FLA.”
While six students sat in the meeting with the administration, the remaining SEJ supporters sat outside of the president’s office waiting for it to end.
For Bethany Enright, a civil engineering freshman, it was her first taste of an SEJ event.
“I am really curious about what is going to happen,” she said. “The amount of time I am here doesn’t upset or deter me - I am not doing this because it’s going to be fun, I am trying to help make a difference.”
Anna Swiontoniowski, an SEJ member and landscape architecture sophomore, sat in the meeting and said she felt nothing was accomplished.
“It’s the same thing all the time, and it’s unacceptable,” she said.
