Taking a stand

Students push MSU to support workers' rights

| The State News Jose Villagran, interdisciplinary studies in law and society sophomore, and social work sophomore Claudia Gonzalez, both members of Movimiento Estudiantil Xicano de Aztlan, dance Thursday in the lobby of the Administration Building. The protest was part of an ongoing campaign by MEXA and MSU Students for Economic Justice to get MSU to join the Worker Rights Consortium, an organization that ensures that university apparel is not made in sweatshops.

The dancers were protesting the fact that MSU had not joined the Worker Rights Consortium, or WRC. The students said the university has stalled its efforts to sign with the WRC.

The WRC is a group of students and university administrators who work to make sure no university clothing is produced by companies that have violated human rights.

"We're trying to send a message that we are not going stand for this any longer," said interdisciplinary studies in social science sophomore Jose Villagran. Villagran is a member of Movimiento Estudiantil Xicano de Aztlan, or MEXA, who helped arrange the protest with members of Students for Economic Justice, or SEJ.

Currently, MSU is part of the Fair Labor Association - another workers' rights group.

SEJ and MEXA members said the labor association represents corporate interests because panels that investigate human rights violations for the group are composed of corporate directors.

The labor association also does not disclose names of the factories that manufacture MSU clothing, so students can't check in, said SEJ member Jim Ridolfo.

"This was a creative way to let people know why we're here," Ridolfo said. "Right now we have no idea what factories are producing State apparel."

Responding to an anonymous complaint, MSU police Lt. Scott Beckner arrived after about 15 minutes and asked the students to disperse.

"We're going to let them voice their opinion - there's a difference between dissent and disruption," Beckner said.

Beckner spoke with several students who agreed to stop the protest after two more songs.

In her office on the fourth floor, MSU President Lou Anna K. Simon was not aware the protest was taking place.

She said the police had a right to ask the students to stop.

"Business does have to be conducted in the building," Simon said. "They would need a permit to have amplified sound."

Simon said the group's request is still being considered by the university, and although she was not working firsthand with the students, she was following the issue's progress.

"I appreciate their impatience," Simon said. "I know this is something they have been working on for years, but it's only day 54 for me."

The dancers finished by chanting demands for justice and workers' rights and then stayed in the lobby for another 30 minutes talking and holding signs.

Ridolfo, a rhetoric and writing graduate student, said he understood the university's response to the protest and thought the event was still a success.

Applied engineering sciences junior Nicole Woods said the protest did not interrupt her at all while she was in building.

"It is a good cause," Woods said. "They should be allowed to do what they want."