No Sweat

As thousands of students caromed across campus, hustling to classes and lunch dates,
about a hundred and fifty gave up their lunch hour to attend a rally sponsored by the Students for Economic and Social Justice, protesting Griz gear purportedly manufactured in sweat shops around the world.

The student group gathered before the Main Hall offices of the University of Montana's president and vice president, offering informational literature and free cookies to attendees.

Rhythmic beats of a conga mingled with the chant "Dennison, Foley: Grizzlies sweat free," but the named men were unable to hear them. Both President Dennison and VP Jim Foley were out-of-town at the time of the rally, a point the students knew in advance, said Foley.

Their absence didn't stop the crowd from pouring like a reverse fire drill up the stairs of Main hall and into the quiet corridors, where the chanting continued before unopened doors.

Speakers at the rally called conditions in the factories where the Griz gear is made "akin to slavery," stating their belief that "what affects someone halfway around the world affects you."

Sean Morrison, an ASUM senator majoring in English Lit spoke eloquently about the university's motto, Lux et veritas, as being a call to action. "How can you be committed to truth and support sweatshops?" he asked. "Ultimately, this is our university, our logo, and our decision," Morrison said.

Sam Schabacker, a senior in economics and SESJ organizer, urged rally goers not to be "apathetic like the administration. We need to keep pressuring them," he said.

Schabacker referred to a recent ASUM resolution and petition signed by 500 students urging the administration to join the Workers Rights Consortium, an agency that monitors working conditions in apparel factories. Claiming the university ignored a March 1st deadline, Schabacker said "we need to let them know this is unacceptable."

But Andrea Helling, ASUM president, said the resolution did not have a deadline.

"We are in full support of workers rights," Helling said, acknowledging the unanimous vote for the resolution. But unlike a law, a resolution has no teeth, and cannot be construed to command action.

"They're not getting the point across to me," said rally observer Graham Scott. "The spinner is wearing Nike gear, and they're protesting Nike," he said of the DJ at the rally.

Katie Pritchard, a junior in EVST, said the issue isn't with all Nike gear. Right now, she said, the university purchases items through a contract with Nike that has no way to monitor where those items are produced.

The group has met with Vice President Foley "at least six times," Foley said, and will do so again this Friday. "I look forward to working with them on a process that's best for the university as a whole," Foley said. "We look forward to doing the right thing for this institution."

Lou Terri, Head of Procurement at UM agrees, and said "we want everyone to be treated right." However, she would like students to remember one thing: "We don't have any jurisdiction outside of U of M."

International Week at University of Montana

Human rights and international politics are inextricably linked. That's the message of the keynote address that marks the beginning of the University of Montana's International Week, five days' worth of seminars, talks and presentations focusing on international culture.

History professor Paul Lauren will give the keynote address, "Conscience of Mankind: Human Rights, Values and International Politics," at 7 pm Thursday March 8th in the UC Ballroom.

Merdad Kia, director of the university's International Program, calls the address "a major presentation on a major international issue." The talk focuses on human rights, which Kia calls "paramount."

Lauren will use his personal experiences to reflect on the US civil rights movement, the trial of Serbian leader Slobadan Milosovich and on Lauren's cold war travels behind the iron curtain.

Kia stated this is the first lecture in what he hopes will be an annual part of the five-year old event. "We have tried to make (the week's offerings) as diverse as possible," he said.

For example, he said, there is "so much interest in women in the middle east right now," that Tuesday will feature a talk by visiting scholar Thuwayba Ahmed Issa Al-Barwani on the topic. U of M has used the week as an "opportunity to bring visiting scholars and lecturers to campus," Kia said.


"We want to broaden the international reach of our campus," Kia stated. Events that aim to do so include lectures on volunteer opportunities in Southeast Asia, study abroad, the peace corps and a workshop on "How to pay for your summer travel overseas."

Information about study abroad opportunities will be available in the UC Atrium all week, while the lectures take place across campus.

A full schedule of the events comprising International Week can be found at www.umt.edu/oip, or by calling the Office of International Programs at 243-2288.

Kia said the broad variety of offerings should provide everyone with something of interest, with talks on cultures as diverse as Ireland ("Guinness Education and Business"), the former USSR ("Georgia, Land of the Golden Fleece") and Tajikistan: a Hidden Pearl of Central Asia."

Kia noted that international student representation at U of M is increasing, and the events of International Week are a great way "to showcase the international activities of students, faculty and staff."

The student-run International Food and Cultural Festival will take place from noon to 5 pm on Sunday.

International Food and Culture Festival at UM

Sunday, you'll be able to taste foods from Africa and Japan, watch a Thai puppet show, and hear Native American Coyote tales, all as part of the 2007 International Food and Culture festival presented by the University of Montana's Foreign Student and Scholar Services and International Students Association.

The International Culture and Food Festival takes place from noon to five p.m. Sunday on all three floors of the University Center, and is the "anchor event" of the newer International Week, said Mona Mondava, festival director. "We've been doing this about fifteen years now," she said, remarking that the event has grown to include four different, simultaneous components to keep visitors "happily busy" the full five hours.

The festival starts with a "World Flag Parade" led by Missoula's Celtic dragon Pipe Band. There will be hot food samples from 20 student organizations, a non-stop international culture show, "Children's World," and an informational bazaar featuring 40 different cultural, student and community organizations.

An exciting aspect of the festival is the non stop international culture show in the UC Ballroom, said Mondava, which highlights cultural performances from around the world.

The local Thai community, she said, will be conducting a fashion show using traditional textiles brought in just for this event. In addition, there will be drumming, music and dance from Poland, Arabia, Japan and other cultures, all on stage in the ballroom, with one act following the next for the full length of the festival. The activities, said Mondava, "showcase the talents and contributions of our international students."

"Without the students, there wouldn't be a festival," adds Kofi Abaidoo, president of the International Student Association. The students act as coordinators and performers for the event, he said, beginning the previous semester to ensure the festival is a success. The ISA, Mondava said, is one of the oldest student groups on campus, with approximately 500 student members.

New to the event this year is "Children's World," in the second-floor UC Commons. Up to 15 booths will offer kids of all ages the opportunity for hands-on intercultural learning activities such as making Hawaiian friendship leis and having their hands painted with henna in the Indonesian mehndi form.

A six-page program, free with the $2 admission charge, describes all the activities and events.

The festival "is a way for the International students to give back to the community," Abaidoo said. The university and community provide many services to acclimate international students to life in Missoula, and this, he said, is their thank you gift for that assistance.

Still Sweating it Out

Last Wednesday, the University's Students for Economic and Social Justice held a "No Sweat" rally outside the offices of President Dennison and Vice President Foley, protesting the production of Griz gear that may be made in sweatshops around the globe.

On Friday afternoon, Foley met with the group and two faculty members to discuss their concerns.

The SESJ is demanding the University align itself with an independent monitoring group, the Workers Rights Consortium (WRC), which would survey apparel manufacturers to ensure all licensed Griz gear comes only from those factories with fair labor practices.

The students and Vice President Foley came to one agreement: another possible monitoring agency, the Fair Labor Alliance, did not meet UM or SESJ objectives. "The WRC (is) the only option to ensure Grizzly gear is made sweat free," said SESJ member Sean Morrison.

The Workers Rights Consortium, according to Sam Shabacker, investigates factories producing collegiate licensed apparel. They identify those paying their workers a living wage and offering humane working conditions, and considered them "designated suppliers." The WRC then promises to direct all university apparel orders to those factories.

Foley was not convinced the mechanism works, saying "the WRC has admitted they're not there yet," regarding certifying the apparel factories.

He handed out a list of ten questions he said must be answered before the University commits. One was ensuring there are enough designated factories to produce the highly popular Griz gear.

Although only a moderate-sized school, Morrison pointed out that UM is one of the top 50 purchasers of collegiate licensed apparel in the country. "It's much more than would be expected from a school of this size," he said.

Other questions dealt with monitoring the factories and with attaining what Foley called a "critical mass" of participating schools to guarantee the designated factories year-round business, calling collegiate gear procurement "seasonal."

"If we meet all these questions can we be assured that the university will affiliate with the WRC?," asked Tara Ness, one of three ASUM senators in the group.

Foley replied "Why would I make an assurance to something I'm not aware of myself?"

Undaunted, the students agreed to tackle the questions before their next meeting.

"It's really frustrating," Ness stated. "We want to get this solved as quickly as possible, and the questions keep coming up to prolong the process."

The students, who last year forged changes with the University's contract with Coca Cola, began meeting with the administration in October, 2006 regarding the sweatshop issue.

Morrison contends that with its buying power, UM "has a lot of clout" in leading the charge that all collegiate wear be made "sweat free."

While Foley acknowledged the hard work done by the students, he refused to pushed. "Nothing's off the table," he said, but added "You can't have the tail wagging the dog."

Foley pointed out that processes of this type take time. For example, he said, the university's purchasing "Code of Conduct" is in it's sixth draft since the students and the administration began work on it in Spring of 2006.

That code addresses labor standards, worker health and safety and environmental considerations when selecting vendors, according to the draft document Foley distributed. The code will automatically apply to Griz gear manufacturers as well as other University suppliers.

The students will continue their talks with the administration later this week.

New Speech Pathology Program Approved by Regents; Awaits Legislative Funding

The University of Montana's proposed Masters in Speech Pathology program has been given the go-ahead by the State Board of Regents. Now all that's keeping the program from getting off the ground is the passage of a state budget by the Montana legislature.

An email from Lynn Hamilton, Regents Chair, stated "the board approved the proposal at our meeting (on March 2d)." But the program is still dependant on one-time start-up funds from the legislature, said Chris Merriman, a Speech and Language Pathologist the University's Rural Institute. The funding is necessary to hire a department chair, set up the program, update the current facilities and upgrade equipment and technology, she said. However, Merriman added, that funding is included in all six budget variations being contemplated by the legislature.

After the initial influx of state money, faculty and staff positions will be funded by the university, said Lucy Hart-Paulson, a Research Assistant Professor in the Division of Educational Research and Service.

"President Dennison said there is money in the budget to sustain the program once the state legislature approves the start-up funds," Hart-Paulson said, adding they were told "this program will not take money away from other departments."

"What's missing is the one-time start up funds," said Merriman.

Still out of town, Dennison was unavailable for comment.

But Merriman said the program has the advantage of already existing facilities. Until 1990, the university housed a Communications Science and Disorders department in the basement of the Curry Health Center and the new Speech Pathology program would utilize those same facilities, she said. "This facility is available for the program to come to, so there's no need to build a building," Merriman said. The Rural Institute is located there now, so some support staff are already in place as well.
Both Hart-Paulson and Merriman agreed that Speech Pathology is a financially-intensive program.

Merriman, who specializes in alternative and augmentative communication, works under a Rural Institute grant to provide Montanans who need them with electronic communicative devices, which often cost thousands of dollars apiece. Most insurance will cover the costs of the devices if deemed medically necessary, she said.

Merriman relayed that people familiar with the former program still call seeking speech and language assistance. "We have a lot of need out there," she said, "so it's exciting to have this opportunity (to begin a new program)."

According to information from the Montana Speech, Language and Hearing Association, over 25 percent of the available speech pathology and audiology jobs within the state are vacant, and 40 percent of those currently holding those positions will retire within the next ten years.

Currently, individuals with language development delays receive free counseling and treatment through the Scottish Rite-supported RiteCare Language Clinic, housed in the Rural Institute.

Hart-Paulson, who works as a Speech and Language Pathologist at the clinic, said it will be used as a training facility for the masters candidates in the new program. "Each student will need 400 hours of supervised clinic time with different age groups and disabilities," she said.

The Scottish Rite, a philanthropic arm of the Freemasons, currently funds the clinic through donations and fundraisers.

One fundraiser, a "meet and greet" dance and auction with award-winning Montana painters, will be held this Friday at the Joker's Wild. Tickets are available at the door, Hart-Paulson said. Next month, a "four-person scramble" golf tournament will be held at King Ranch. Information about both events can be had by calling the clinic at 243-5261.

"The outpouring of support has been tremendous," said Merriman of interest in the new program. "Now we just need to convince the legislature."

ASUM Budget Finalized

After seventeen hours and one missed Modest Mouse concert, ASUM had a budget.

The senators and executive board of the student run organization determine the budgets of all ASUM approved student groups on campus. After dolling out the majority of $750,000 to their own needs, ASUM had about $36,000 left over for student groups.

New this year was a protocol for fund allocation, said ASUM President Andrea Helling.
Previously, groups were allocated funds in a random manner that allowed for favoritism, she said. This year, striving to improve equity, each group was given a proportional amount for basic office needs, and told to seek special events funding for such activities as concerts, performances and lectures.

As a result, many groups were allocated far less than they requested, while a few groups with zero-dollar requests received funding anyway.

But as with all things budgetary, you’ve got to dig to find the truth. Turns out, many groups received more funding this year than last - just less than they requested.

One such group is the Montana Anthropology Student Association. The group requested $10,303 from ASUM, and was allocated just $2,976. When contacted by the Kaimin, their response to the apparent “reduction” was gratitude.

“We really increased our funding over last year,” said group president Erika Scheuring. “Last year we received only $475, so what we were given this year is really considerate.” The amount they asked for included funds to pay off debts left from last year, Scheuring said. “We wanted to make sure that doesn’t happen again.”

Any group unhappy with the executive board’s initial recommendations could petition the senate at a March 5th meeting, Helling said. All groups were given a written statement as to why any funding was denied, as well.

Still, not all groups were fortunate.

The literary magazine Cutbank suffered the greatest cut, said Helling, who doesn’t “feel too good about that. Cutbank is a legacy,” she said, but the group turned in their request almost a month late, and that hurt them. Last year, the journal received $13,815. This year, they got just $1000.

Due to what Helling characterized as an ‘oversight,’ Cutbank was not recognized as an official student group. Helling explained that all groups must go through an annual process of being recognized by ASUM before being allocated funds. “We were emailing them at an address they didn’t check,” she said.

To remedy the mistake, which Helling said was the fault of both the magazine and ASUM, Cutbank was “recognized as a student group during the budgetary process, and we gave them $1000.”

Establishing the budget for student groups takes commitment from both the groups and the senate, Helling emphasized. “We had some quorum issues,” she said. For some senators, “Modest Mouse took precedence over the senate.”

Typically conducted on a Saturday, this year’s budget meeting was rescheduled to Friday so as not to collide with St. Patty’s Day festivities. “We knew a lot of people would be drinking,” Helling remarked.

Still, the Friday night concert and student work schedules left ASUM in a bind. “Senator Lucas Hamilton gave up his Modest Mouse tickets to stay and meet quorum,” Helling said. “He’s just incredible.”

The problem may not repeat next year, though. “This was a young senate,” Helling said. “There were only a handful of people who had done budgeting before.” Only three of this year’s senators are graduating, though, so next year may see some institutional memory that streamlines the process, Helling said.