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An open letter from SAS

To the editor,

According to the Commitments Relating to Sweatshops agreed upon between President Likins and Students Against Sweatshops, the labor rights task force was to have 12 members, six nominated by SAS and six by the President. We also had a spoken agreement regarding the eventuality that someone might appear on both lists. According to this agreement, that person, if appointed, would count as being from both lists.

Of course, the spoken agreement is not reflected in the written Commitments. However, it should be pointed out that appointing only 12, with one overlapping appointee, is also contrary to the written Commitments; instead of changing the number of task force members, this alternative represents the two sides unequally.

It seems clear that equality of representation is a more important value than the precise number of people on the task force. Indeed this number was chosen somewhat arbitrarily. Moreover, equality of representation was the basis of the oral agreement. Thus in a situation where "some" aspect of the written agreement must be compromised, it seems natural that we would alter the number of members rather than sacrifice equality of representation.

Under the oral agreement between SAS and President Likins, the number should have been 11 instead of 12. In light of the past week's events, dropping one person is superior to the status quo, but of course it seems unwieldy. Thus an even better solution would seem to be to add one person from the SAS nominees' list. Such an addition would preserve fairness in a manner consistent with the spoken agreement. Adding a thirteenth member is therefore the preferred solution.

In addition, while the choice of whom to add of course remains yours, we would recommend that the added person be one of our non-academic nominees. Granted, the task force deals with University contracts, but the intention all along has been to include members of the non-academic community. Such an addition would help build links between the University and its community in a productive and mutually beneficial way.

Finally, it bears repeating that SAS does not have any problem with any member of the task force, least of all Andy Silverman. Our concern is about equality of representation and the integrity of the procedure. These important values must be preserved, and be seen to be preserved, if the task force is to have the moral standing that it needs.

The Members of Students Against Sweatshops