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Editorial: Time for SAS to open doors, minds

It appears Students Against Sweatshops members have once again decided that excluding journalists from otherwise open meetings is an acceptable way to say "no comment."

Once again, an Arizona Daily Wildcat reporter and photographer were denied access to the organization's protest planning and large-scale decisions.

Once again, the UA's branch of a nationwide workers' rights group decided that University of Arizona students are not entitled to details of the group's proceedings.

Let's be clear, Students Against Sweatshops is not a government body and is under no legal obligation to open its doors to the public. They are a student-run organization, and can close a meeting at any time.

But blatant partiality in its admissions process is downright absurd.

During a meeting last night in the University of Arizona's Social Sciences building, SAS members booted a Wildcat reporter and photographer from the meeting room.

Despite SAS' invitation to the public, the members made it crystal clear - inviting students does not mean inviting the students' newspaper.

After a tedious debate, SAS members decided to allow the reporter and photographer to re-enter, but only to hear a 25-minute diatribe which ended in the postponement of an important vote.

It was also hard to believe when Students Against Sweatshops members cut communication with the press during their 10-day protest in UA President Peter Likins office last semester.

As negotiations dragged on during the group's extensive sit-in, SAS members became more cautious about their statements. With the passing of each day, less information was released.

Then, on April 26, SAS members severed contact with the Wildcat, their only connection with the student body at the University of Arizona.

Executive group members gagged their subordinates, and SAS' main spokespeople refused comment requested by Wildcat reporters.

"There's nothing strange about closed negotiations," Tim Bartley, an SAS member, said in April during the sit-in.

Sadly, it appears that SAS is once again practicing censorship and stomping on the free exchange of information.

And it epitomizes hypocrisy. While they are requesting transparency in others, they are not willing to provide it themselves.

SAS is an organization that has routinely called for Nike and other apparel manufacturers to allow monitors inside their private factories. The group is attempting to gain access in an effort to monitor sweatshop conditions and unfair labor practices within the workplaces.

In addition, SAS has demanded access to records that document payment and work hours for employees in those factories.

Even more contradictory, as SAS members walked toward the Administration building prior to storming Likins office, they chanted "Peter Likins is a poseur. Stop delaying full disclosure."

Really?

It appears the tides have turned.

Perhaps SAS should heed their own warnings. And perhaps the hats belonging to the poseurs should be worn by the organization's top officials.

It's time for SAS to step down from its ivory tower. It is one of the leading student groups at the University of Arizona and community members care about the decisions and actions of the organization.

Bartley told a reporter last night that members are "less likely to throw out whatever creative or strange ideas they have."

Why is that? Are they afraid that their secret club might come under unwanted scrutiny? Or are they afraid the public might criticize them more accurately?