EAT]ING IT OUT

Penn StudentsAgainstSweatshopshave been on a nine-daysit in protesting sweatshoplabor injustices.Their effortshave paid off as UniversityPresident agrees to pull Penn out of FLA and enter it into WRC.

by Shanna Fanelliand Stephanie Masucci features editor and assistant a & e editor

When you walk through the large wooden doors of Coilege Ha11in the University of Pennsylvania, the purpose behind the now nine-day sit in hits you in the face. Literally, as in the form of yellow banners, colored protest- signs and anticorporate,anti-sweat shop and anti-GAP manifesto. This group of Penn students, who have tripled in number since they began their protest Mon. Feb. 7 at noon, are a part of the Penn Students Against Sweatshops group. The protesters want the university to switch from the Fair Labor Association, a manufacturer of ap- pare) that forces workers to perform in inadequate conditions, to the better controlled Workers Rights Consortium.

A 'sweatshop' is "a factory where workers, (especially women) are abused, harassed, mistreated and subject to unsafe and hazardous conditions. Wages are not enough to meet employees' basic needs and workers are often fired and blacklisted if they try to organize and improve conditions," according to a PSAS press release.

"One thing we want is full public disclosure," Christine Nangle, a sophomore in the College of Arts and Sciences, said.

The protesters want to bring public awareness to the name and location of factories and suppliers who are involved in sweatshop abuse It is a cause they have been working on since Feb. 26 of 1999, when students at Penn and other Ivy League schools expressed letters of concern to their administrators that full public disclosure and independent monitoring be continuedon next page

Iall photos by Janice Funk photos diagonalfrombottom left; College Hall on the outside; Student protestors, like Emily Quesada, camped out in university president Judith Rodin's office, refusing to move until FLA is dropped; College Hall on the inside is a collage of posters showing, acting and displaying support of the PSAS and their crusade. brought about.

The protesters had been preparing for this event, knowing that a dramatic sit-in would inevitably occur. After nine days of transforming College Hall lobby and University President Judith Rodin's office into the headquarters for the PSAS, their petitioning voices have been heard. Rodin, in a meeting with the PSAS, has reached a "tentative agreement" to withdraw Penn from the FLA and join the WRC. The protesters, amid the piles of sleeping bags, blankets and "Make A Poster to Show Yom Support" signs, held their breath awaiting the official written document.

So how are these students dealing with putting their lives on pause for the belief of a cause? All of the students involved in the PSAS knew that this sit-in was coming so most of them spoke to their professors before they took their place on the cold ceramic tiled floor inside College Hall. Since their numbers grew as the nights turned into days, the students were able to leave and take tests for specific classes. Sophomore Matthew Grove, left his post for a few hours Monday to take bis chemistry test. Some students have only left once since last Monday. They took a two-hom leave and went hoine to shower.

"It was a conscious decision to make our cause public but we weren't sure how positive the reaction would be,"

Tina Collins, a first year graduate student, said.

The campus is a scene of mixed emotions. For every person who gives a thumbs-up to the cause, there is another who just doesn't get it.

''There's been a lot of misunderstanding about the issue," Grove admitted.

Posters were tom down on Saturday night and electronic newsgroups have been conducting negative discussions about the PSAS campout.

"My friends have not been supportive," Lillie Cridland, a sophomore, said. "Some have come to see me but most have not." She frowns, "Some have even gone as far as sending rude, unsupportive e-mails."

Other protesters have been getting their own messages of parental concern. Their folks send lots of support. However they'd rather see the students sitting in class than on College Hall floor.

Students were a little surprised, since the campus usually does not put so much effort into a cause.

''There tends to be general feelings of apathy in this sort of thing," Pranjal Tiwari, a sophomore, said. "But it's great to see a lot of students here are so committed to making a difference and making a change. One of the main achievements of this sit-in has been the support that we've gained around campus because it shows that our actions are making more people politically aware and more willing to act."

That may be happening photos clockwise from bottom; soon. Rodin is working on an official agreement and the students couldn't be happier. all photos by Janice Funk

"I'm proud that Penn listens to its students and decided to drop out of FLA," Grove said.

Optimistic feelings are as bright as the signs that adorn the Hall. Hopes that the cause will take off world-wide abound as well.

Sophomore Tom Hickey proudly grins, "If it could happen here, it could happen anywhere."

Members of the PSAS, sophomores Pranjal Tiwari, Tom Hickey and Lillie Cridland also wear yellow ribbons showing that they are participants of the 48 hour fast that represents their solidarity with the workers who are being mistreated. People can split the fasting hours with a friend, each going for 24 hours instead if they wish; Two protestors show support for each other as well as the cause; A statue by Renoir of Venus gets in on the action.