U. Council reviews sweatshop debate

At a University Council meeting yesterday afternoon, the administration reviewed its positions on issues ranging from the ongoing sweatshop debate to disability access in campus buildings. After the official meeting, the Council listened to members of the Penn community voice concerns in an open forum over other pertinent issues, including diversity and the new life sciences building. During the formal meeting, Anthropology professor Gregory Possehl presented the recommendations of the Committee on Manufacturer Responsibility, which recently suggested that the University join both the Fair Labor Association and the Worker Rights Consortium to monitor the production of University apparel. The University currently belongs to neither organization. "This vote was communicated as a recommendation to the President, along with a minority opinion as well as a majority opinion," Possehl said. During the open forum, Penn Students Against Sweatshops member Brian Kelly expressed his group's dissatisfaction with the Committee's recommendation. PSAS maintains that the University should join only the WRC, claiming it better protects workers' rights. Kelly, a Wharton junior, said the Committee relied on skewed sources of information, pointing out that the Committee only heard the WRC's perspective once but the FLA's three times. He noted that since the original ad-hoc committee -- which eventually became the Committee on Manufacturer Responsibility -- was formed last semester, the WRC has increased the university representation on their board. However, he added, the "FLA governing board has made no structural changes." But one member of Council pointed out that the FLA is planning to increase university representation on its thirteen-member board from one to two members. Council also discussed building access for people with disabilities. Charles Newman, director of facilities services, explained how the University is working to improve facilities by adding more accessible entrances, bathrooms, elevators and hallways. Newman said the University is currently targeting the 20 buildings with the worst access for people with disabilities. Council also addressed the search for a new Vice President of Public Safety. The University is currently searching for a replacement for Thomas Seamon, who left his post in October. One student requested that the search committee allow womens and minority groups to help interview the Public Safety candidates to make sure they are mindful of gender and minority issues. Interim Public Safety Vice President Maureen Rush and University President Judith Rodin both assured the student that the search committee is diverse. Also during the open forum, the Latino Coalition requested that it be granted a seat on University Council. Latino groups are not part of the United Minorities Council, which has existing seats on the body. Peer health education groups also recommended that their offices be moved from their current Locust Walk location to Houston Hall, saying that the buildings' current location does not allow discretion in health education matters.