Cornell is continuing its efforts toward ensuring that any workers who help produce Cornell-logo clothing are paid a living wage and allowed union representation. On April 4, the university issued a statement endorsing "principles advocated by the Cornell chapter of United Students Against Sweatshops and embodied in the proposed Designated Suppliers Program (DSP)."

The DSP would require that any factories producing clothing with a Cornell logo pay a living wage, allow workers to unionize and freely express their rights, and prohibit sweatshop conditions.

Cornell currently uses the Collegiate Licensing Co. (CLC) as its licensing agent. Companies producing merchandise imprinted with a Cornell name, logo or mark must complete an application process and be approved by the university to become licensed. CLC is responsible for ensuring that licensees follow Cornell's regulations governing the use of Cornell marks and, since 2000, adhere to a code of conduct regarding factory working conditions and labor organizing activities, among other stipulations. The DSP or a similar program would expand the existing code of conduct.

Since September, the Cornell chapter of the United Students Against Sweatshops (CSAS) has submitted signed petitions, sponsored teach-ins and brought various speakers to campus, including foreign textile workers, in its efforts to inform the Cornell community about anti-sweatshop initiatives and to get Cornell to support the DSP.

The Cornell statement further stated: "As a member of both the Worker Rights Consortium (WRC) and the Fair Labor Association (FLA), Cornell is committed to pursuing all avenues to improve working conditions for the people who produce Cornell apparel. ... While we believe the goals of the Designated Suppliers Program are consistent with the goals of the university, we also acknowledge the significant economic, legal and logistical challenges presented in implementing and sustaining such an effort."

Cornell licensing director Mike Powers, who convened a committee of Cornell faculty members, administrators and students to study the proposal, noted: "There is no question that working conditions in overseas apparel factories must be improved. The DSP is an ambitious proposal, but many questions must be answered if it's to be effectively implemented and sustained. We will continue to work actively with students to identify a practical and effective implementation plan. We will also continue our participation in ongoing discussions with other colleges and universities, our licensees, the WRC and the FLA."

By endorsing the goals of the DSP, Cornell became one of fewer than a dozen schools that have publicly responded to the proposal.

"If the DSP or a similar plan is to work, we need the participation of a significant number of colleges and universities," said Powers. "We're hoping that our involvement might serve as a catalyst in bringing other schools to the table."

Jordan Wells '07, vice president of CSAS, said, "For the Cornell Organization for Labor Action and student supporters, our true cause for celebration will be when the Cornell Store actually begins to support justice and workers' rights by selling clothes made in designated supplier factories."

Wells, who went to the Dominican Republic over spring break to talk with textile workers, noted, "For each day that it takes to implement the DSP, workers' rights are imperiled by Cornell licensees' predatory pricing policies, which pit impoverished workers against each other."

Cornell representatives will attend an April 21 meeting in Washington, D.C., to continue discussions on the DSP.