Students show little interest in sit-in
As the University of Arizona's SAS sit-in continues past 120 hours, a random sampling of students on the UA Mall shows many are unaware that a campus protest is underway.
About 35 students have camped out in UA President Peter Likins' office since last Wednesday, awaiting his signature on a resolution demanding fair labor practices from companies that manufacture university apparel.
An Arizona Daily Wildcat random poll of 50 students revealed that 20 percent of the sampling was not aware of the Students Against Sweatshops protest.
Another 34 percent of the students polled knew of the protest - the longest ever held in America by the international SAS organization - but had no knowledge of the activists' demands.
Despite the number of unaware students, 40 percent support the provisions SAS is demanding.
The demands include full disclosure of factory addresses, assurance that employees will receive a "living wage," independent monitoring of factories and equal rights for female workers.
"I don't agree with sweatshops," said Michael Wilkinson, a Near Eastern Studies freshman. "I don't see why the (factory) locations shouldn't be accessible."
Another student thought Likins' motivation for signing the agreement was misconstrued.
"Likins appears to be concerned with the monetary angle and SAS seems to be concerned with the humanitarian angle," said Ariana Lipman, a pre-computer science sophomore.
Four percent of the sampling didn't support the conditions SAS is demanding, and some students supported the use of sweatshops if they reduced prices.
"I think it's convenient for everybody to have sweatshops," said Jorge Gardner, a MIS sophomore.
While some students do not support SAS' terms, 30 percent do not agree with the activists' approach.
"I think they're doing bottom up," said elementary education sophomore Natalie Sinna. "He (Likins) doesn't have any clout in that area."
While other students thought the organization's approach was too extreme, one student thought the group should expand their efforts to encompass a national change.
"I don't think they should just focus their efforts here," said Mike Jordan, a MIS junior.
Despite the polls, one SAS member maintained that student response has been immense.
"It's been tremendous," said M.J. Braun, a SAS member and UA graduate student focusing in rhetoric. "Hundreds of students have filtered through this office."
Alexis Hover, an office automation specialist in the president's office, said 45 locals have called the president's office offering support and dissent.
"There has been support for Likins...from the business community," she said, adding that one parent said he was disappointed that the protesters hadn't been arrested.
A UA Associated Students survey on the Mall last week questioned students' familiarity with the sweatshop issue, whether it's the university's responsibility to facilitate change in labor practices and the UA's involvement in the anti-sweatshop movement.
ASUA is using the surveys to determine if they should sign a resolution in support of SAS members.
More than 200 questionnaires were distributed to students during the week of polling.
ASUA has not tallied the responses because they plan to survey more students by the end of the week, said Ben Graff, ASUA's executive vice president-elect.
Graff added that some students were supportive of the protesters' cause, while others yelled "Go Nike."
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