Penn’s administration has been successfully working with students to make ethically responsible purchases.
Earlier this month, about 15 schools joined together at Stanford University to discuss conflict minerals — substances which are illicitly traded and taxed, often used in electronics.
College junior Benjamin Brockman, who represented the University, helped other schools follow Penn’s example by working with attendees to “exchange best practices” and decide “how to form a national movement” on conflict minerals, he said.
Ever since Brockman discovered that technological purchases may be indirectly funding the conflict in the Congo, he has teamed with the administration to use Penn’s purchasing power to make a difference. By avoiding these conflict minerals, Penn hopes to make a global impact.
Although Stanford was the “first school to pass any kind of conflict resolution” and is constantly “out in front on social issues,” Penn was able to contribute to the dialogue, Brockman said.
The conference featured informal guest speakers, experts in the field, representatives from responsibility-minded companies and discussions to get the “national conversation going.” Additionally, Brockman was able to present at the conference to share his knowledge of conflict minerals with the other schools present.
College junior Arielle Wolfson, who also attended the conference, said she was pleased to have the “opportunity to help other schools and give them advice about how to move forward” in developing stronger policies against conflict mineral purchases.
Penn is a national leader and was able to help other schools form proposals, Brockman said. “As a result, proposals that are submitted to administrations at other schools cite Penn’s work as an example,” he added.
Laurie Cousart, director of sustainability for Business Services, said if people and groups who “purchase large amount of electronics” such as Penn decide to take up this issue, they could have the power to influence manufacturers and the Electronic Industry Citizenship Coalition.
At the end of the conference, all schools present signed onto a public statement to make a difference about conflict minerals and create an advisory board and task force.
This resolution was based on Stanford’s original resolution and the Enough Project. According to their website, this resolution is founded on the “power of student leadership and activity to encourage university officials and stakeholders to … pressure electronics companies to take responsibility for the minerals in their supply chains, which have been contributing to the ongoing conflict in eastern Congo.”
“Just having a policy in place goes a long way,” Brockman said.
Currently, the EICC does not have conflict minerals “specifically on their agendas,” Wolfson said.
“We have a commitment to socially responsible purchasing,” Business Services spokeswoman Barbara Lea-Kruger said. Nevertheless, Penn’s “major suppliers” are members of the EICC, she said.
However, Wolfson explained that Penn has reached out to the group and asked it to address the issue of conflict minerals. “That’s a big step,” Wolfson said.
This conference was a chance “for students from schools like Penn and Stanford to advise other schools and help grow the … movement” as they did for the Darfur movement, Brockman said.
Brockman is working with the administration to continue moving forward and will continue to “monitor what is happening with the issue over the summer” so they can continue making progress next fall.
