Editor in chief: Laura Cadiz
Editorial Editors: Bret Jacobson, Laura Lucas
Newsroom: (541)346-5511
Room 300, Erb Memorial Union
P.O. Box 3159, Eugene, OR 97403
E-mail: ode@oregon.uoregon.edu
Friday
January 7,2000
Volume 101, Issue 71
Effierald
in the right direction
University President Dave
Frohnmayer recently
sent a letter to corporate
licensees of the Univer
sity logo requiring full disclo
sure of several important labor
facts. It was the right decision
and made in the right way.
There is an urgent need, no
doubt, to join in the fight
against sweatshop labor
throughout the world, but in
this instance, the methodology
of reaching this decision was as
important as is the final result.
The decision to require infor
mation on employee grievance
procedures, locations of pro
duction facilities and names, ti
tles and phone numbers of
company officers is a small step
in the right direction. Acknowl
edged by all as only the begin
ning in a battle on sweatshop
labor practices, hopefully the
inertia of getting the ball rolling
will continue to move the
process along as quickly as pos
sible.
While the end result was crit
ical, the method of reaching it
was even more important. In
stead of immediately bowing to
groups such as the Human
Rights Alliance who tried to
impose arbitrary deadlines for a
decision, the president fol
lowed advice of a diverse panel
of serious individuals dedicat
ed to change within the system.
Using a formal process offers
several important benefits to
the decision.
One important benefit of
withstanding vocal protesters
in favor of a school committee
involving students, faculty and
administrators is a boost to the
credibility of a final decision.
By listening to the Licensing
Code of Conduct Committee,
Frohnmayer sent a message that
University business will be
conducted by a thoughtful
process and will resist the often
fickle nature of public demon
strators. Not only will students
know that the decision has the
backing of the administration,
but companies who license
Oregon logos will receive the
message that this is a policy
that is measured and not
subject to negotiation.
Another benefit of a formal
process is that it takes longer.
Though it would be easy to
bemoan the time necessary for
such a well-measured process
as a hindrance to righteous
change, the time itself lends
perspective to those charged
with making such important
decisions. Large, raucous
crowds living in the moment
are not known for their judi
cious policy making.
Obviously one must appreci
ate students who are involved
and stay active in the local poli
tics of the school. There is no
substitute for a concerned stu
dent body, and there should be
heavy involvement and over
sight on the part of students
throughout the rest of the
process, as well as constant re
view once a policy is in place
and working.
In an era where a public truth
is built from spin and reputa
tions are won and lost on the
ability to demagogue, the deci
sion to ignore meaningless
deadlines for change sent just
the right message from Frohn
mayer. But for all the discus
sion on how the decision was
made, the fact should remain
unobscured: the process for
ending University-licensed,
sweatshop-made wares is un
derway, and we should all be
happy with that.
This editorial represents the opinion
of the Emerald editorial board. Re
sponses may be sent to
ode@oregon.uoregon.edu.
Thumbs
To one more
comeback
The Ducks won
the Sun Bowl, up
setting number 12
ranked Minnesota
and leaping into
the top 25 in the
polls. The win is
expected to help
recruiting and
keep donor mon
ey flowing in.
To a house of win
ners
Delta Sigma Phi
fraternity was rec
ognized by the
Governor's Council
on Alcohol and
Drug Prevention
for a pledge to
keep a dry house.
The recognition
comes in the form
of the governor’s
Outstanding Com
munity Service
Award.
To the storm after
the calm
After the new year
came without any
significant com
puter problems,
lawsuits are ex
pected to build
against computer
consultants as
some believe the
hype provoked
unnecessary com
puter improve
ments. Come on,
bite the bullet and
move on.
To the end of a
good thing
Peanuts cartoonist
Charles Schulz is
sued his final com
ic strip on Jan. 3
after retiring to
fight off a cancer
he is facing.