Likins visits Nike headquarters

"I'm not part of the negotiation process with Nike," Likins said. "There's no contract in front of me to sign."

For several months, Nike and University of Arizona Intercollegiate Athletic Department have been negotiating a multimillion dollar deal that would provide athletic equipment to the UA's Division I sports teams.

Likins said he is simply doing research so he can make an informed decision when and if a contract is placed in front of him to sign.

"My training tells me that when I have a significant decision to make, I have to do my homework," he said. Likins said he is paying for the trip.

Some UA students, including the UA chapter of Students Against Sweatshops, oppose the deal because the billion-dollar clothing and shoe company has been accused of human rights violations in some east Asian factories.

At noon today, the group is scheduled to protest Likins' trip to Nike Headquarters on the UA Mall, said James Tracy, a media arts graduate student and co-founder of the Students Against Sweatshops chapter.

Likins said he approaches all controversial topics with a degree of skepticism, but his goal is to be objective.

He compared the Nike deal to the controversial issue of building telescopes on Mount Graham, northeast of Tucson.

"I'm doing a lot of homework on Mount Graham," Likins said. "That doesn't mean I'm about to pull the plug on Mount Graham."

Likins said at some point there may be pressure on him to move quickly, and he must start preparing now.

"Eventually, someone might say, 'Here's a contract.' That's not the time for me to start doing my homework," he said.

Likins, however, said he doesn't know if a contract will be ready in one month, three months or never.

Likins said he wants to ask Knight about Nike's commitment to their code of conduct.

The code of conduct expressly forbids Nike factories from mistreating workers.

Likins said he has read many news stories, press releases and other documents about Nike.

Still, he wants to meet the company's CEO in person and form his own opinion about Nike's integrity.

"Finally, you have to look a guy in the face and make a judgment," Likins said.