User:Mpayton1/sandbox

 

On April 21, 1999 SAS (Students Against Sweatshops) members and supporters formed a group of over 100 students, some of which invited where the school's Mascot (Wilbur and Wilma Wildcat) and some of the school's cheerleaders. These students all marched the University of Arizona’s administration building and performed a skit to President Likin poking fun of the university’s partnership with the Fair Labour Association (FLA). The protest was in demand that President Likin endorse their workers rights resolution. The protesters then presented a petition with over 1,000 student signatures saying they opposed University of Arizona’s participation with the FLA. Sixty-seven students stayed behind to participate in a sit-in outside the president’s office.

Thirty students stayed nearly ten full days (255 hours), which is the longest protest reported in all of USAS sit-ins. The students planned ahead and brought games and homework to pass time. They all worked together to work in shifts to ensure as many students as possible were able to still attend class. Provided by Southern Arizona People's Law, food was offered to the students participating in the sit-in. The only involvement of law enforcement was the one police officer stationed overnight. This police officer was stationed to watch over the students participating in the sit-in and ensure safety for those involved.

Likins sat down with the protestors for over an hour and a half and agreed to support the campaign against the sweatshop manufactured clothing sold on campus, but would not commit to a deadline. Protesters were not satisfied without a specific date in mind, so the sit-in continued outside of the President's Office. After 225 hours of non stop protest outside of President Likins' office, President Likin agreed to meet the student's standards by invited the protestors into a conference room to watch as the proper students against sweatshops officials and President Linkin sign documents. These documents were designed to increase workers' rights in overseas factories that manufacture UA apparel.

There were four mail goals of the SAS resolution and to withdraw the Universities partnership with the Fair Labour Association by August 1, 2000 if the FLA did not place the four major points in its own code of conduct. The university proceeded with the implementation of a six-person task force that was made up of a mixture of students and faculty members. These members were responsible for ensuring these points were met, and that they were given all factory locations for any companies who renewed or formed new licensing contracts with the University.

Avery Kolers, who was an SAS member was quoted saying he was hesitant to claim the priest as a victory, but he did say the group had made important progress toward their goals. The group worked well together to make a significant impact in a nonviolent fashion to put pressure on the University's President to comply with their requests to endorse the SAS members workers rights resolution.