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ASU students deliver a different Valentine’s
message
By Kate Benallal
On Valentine’s Day, several Appalachian State University
students gathered in the back of the administrative building ready
for their voices to be heard.
They are firm believers in the Designated Suppliers Program (DSP)
and want to know why ASU is one of the only campus’ that
have not adopted an anti-sweatshop legislation.
Over the passed few days they had collected valentines from students
all over campus. The Valentines were to be presented to Chancellor
Ken Peacock, arguing students’ standpoint on fair labor laws
throughout the world.
When asked her stance, student Emily Erbach said she just wants
to be able to feel proud. If she is wearing an ASU T-shirt that
she knows has been made in a sweatshop overseas, she feels it
will be offensive, therefore unacceptable, apparel.
Erbach said she also cannot be proud of a school that does not
allow people all over the world the ability to afford the necessities
for their children. Sweatshops, in her mind, are a direct correlation.
Erbach is a member of USAS (United Students Against Sweatshops),
which is a program that ensures factories producing clothing for
ASU have fair labor laws.
The coordinator of the event, Billy Schweig, said he chose Valentine’s
Day because, not only was it an international occurrence, it gave
the students the opportunity to relay their message in a creative
way. This is what a few of them said: ”“People suffer
because of our support of sweatshops,” “Be my sweatshop-free
lover,” “My heart bleeds for the ignorant person who
still believes in sweatshop labor — it bleeds for you,”
and “If you really loved me, you’d adopt the DSP!”
After the chancellor read his not-so-friendly Valentines, he immediately
apologized and agreed to re-open negotiations. However, he said
there were not a lot of options regarding the circumstances, but
he would continue to meet with the students. In early December
of last year, Peacock had shut down the issue and rejected the
students’ campaign.
Schweig said he had yet to address the topic, was pretty straight
forward, and did not have much to say. Schweig also said that
arranging the meeting with the chancellor was fairly difficult,
as Peacock was only going to meet on certain terms and refused
to be verbally attacked.
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