Student group plans to keep eyes on Nike

But across campus, an outspoken anti-Nike student group vowed to keep scrut-inizing conglomerate's labor record despite a recently signed $7 million UA-Nike apparel contract.

For three weeks now, Students Against Sweatshops President Arne Ekstrom has denounced labor provisions in the contract.

"While it's a step in the right direction, there's nothing substantial about it," Ekstrom said Thursday.

In addition to outfitting most University of Arizona athletic teams for the next five years and pumping $7 million into the athletic department, the controversial contract contains an "opt-out" clause that allows the UA to withdraw if Nike or its subcontractors knowingly violate the company's code of conduct

UA President Peter Likins said yesterday that he knows of no other schools with better labor provisions than the UA.

"I felt pretty good about taking the initiative and talking to (Nike Chief Executive Officer) Phil Knight about the labor provisions," Likins said.

Ekstrom, however, said the contract's labor provisions are "empty rhetoric" and "meaningless," alleging that other universities around the country have tougher regulations that hold Nike to a firmer code of conduct.

SASS member Brian Kalkbrenner said Likins is relying too heavily on the human rights agreement.

"The clause that Likins has been so proud of has no import," Kalkbrenner said.

He said an independent monitor, who will report to Nike about labor practices, could be on the athletic apparel company's payroll and thus tainting the assessment.

Likins staunchly defended the implementation of the independent monitor clause.

"I believe that Nike's interests are not well served by having a public disagree-ment about that," he said.

Entering his second year as UA president, Likins added that he views his "adventure" with SAS as a positive one.

"In a certain sense, organizations like SAS need to draw upon rhetorical devices because that's part of the tactical mechanism of any organization that's trying to make a change without having organizational power," Likins said. "That's the way civil rights groups work."

Ekstrom and Kalkbrenner said they also will investigate other companies who allegedly employ sweatshop labor.

Money issues

Financial aspects of the Nike contract also differ from similar contracts.

Monetary provisions in the UA's Nike agreement include $500,000 that will be split among athletic department head coaches, UA Attorney Mike Proctor said.

Duke University, however, negotiated a contract in which head basketball coach Mike Krzyzewski will reportedly receive a $1 million signing bonus and a salary of $375,000.

And the University of North Carolina's $11 million contract guarantees $800,000 annually to the head coaches.

During yesterday's weekly media briefing, Tomey wore a light-blue shirt that included the Nike "swoosh."

"It's not at all part of the deal that we wear Nike on a day-to-day basis, only during the games," he said.

The official contract states, "(products) shall be worn/used by the intended recipient team members, coaches and staff during practices, games, exhibitions, clinics, sports camps."

Tomey added he has not received any monetary bonuses as a result of the new contract, nor has he seen a copy of the document.

UA football player Robert Bonillas wore a white Nike shirt and Nike shoes to the press briefing. Bonillas said he bought the shirt but was given the shoes to wear during games played on artificial turf.

"I've been wearing Nike all my life," said the UA outside linebacker.

Football player Kelvin Eafon said he wears Nike on and off the field and has no problem wearing the apparel he was issued.

"You've got to wear what the school gives you," said Eafon, a running back. "If I didn't want to wear Nike, I'd have to go somewhere else."

David J. Cieslak can be reached via e-mail at David.J.Cieslak@wildcat.arizona.edu.