From: Trina Tocco (talkalot83@hotmail.com)
Date: Sat Apr 27 2002 - 17:58:21 EDT
While this isn't a super big deal, well at least as much as it used to be, I
still wanted to send out a fun and friendly reminder that the USAS list is
watched by school administrators and others who probably aren't "on our
side".
So I'm going to forward this message to the usas WRC list and then answer it
on that listserve. OK SO HERE IS THE IMPORTANT PART-IF YOU ARE RUNNING A
WRC CAMPAIGN OR IF YOU WANT TO STAY UPDATED IN WHAT IS GOING ON WITH THE
WRC,which is something I think we are all trying to do, PLEASE SEND AN EMAIL
TO USAS-WRC-SUBSCRIBE@YAHOOGROUPS.COM. This list is far more secure than
the big and scary USAS list.
Just to clarify, its totally fine to use this list to send out updates but
when it comes to strategizing, it needs to go on more secure lists.
Peace yo
Trina
>From: "Danny" <dannyham@usc.edu>
>To: <usas@yahoogroups.com>
>Subject: [usas] campaign questions (USC + WRC)
>Date: Fri, 26 Apr 2002 00:29:53 -0700
>
>Hey yall,
>So our group came out of our second meeting with our universities CFO (and
>his administrative cheerleaders who tag along) and have encountered a some
>problems, and I wanted to ask you about. Things look less rosy then two
>weeks ago when we left our president's office, to sum everything up.
>
>Yesterday, the admin. emailed us a long statement of criticisms of the WRC,
>and while it's nice to have something in writing to pin them down on, it
>was kinda a blow because we all felt the CFO was receptive to joining as a
>new, previously uninterested party. However, other administrators (with
>vested interested in the FLA) have been openly hostile + they seem to have
>won the conversion battle.
>
>Here are some of the criticisms made (just for giggles):
>1. the WRC is non-inclusive because it doesn't represent all "stakeholders"
>(read: is not controlled by big corporations)
>2. a ServiceMark is an important method to empower consumers, that WRC
>lacks
>3. the WRC needs an internship/apprenticeship program to involve students
>in human rights issues
>4. WRC is not a comprehensive monitoring program, but randomly targets
>individual factories
>5. WRC does not have one standard code of conduct
>6. WRC does not address the conditions under which non-college apparel is
>made
>--They also suggested that the WRC accredit itself as a monitor through the
>FLA, though later they tried to say it was a human rights group, not a
>monitoring organization (like FSU's line)--
>
>Now we're good at arguing this schtuff by now, but the problem is we refute
>and they simply don't listen. We went through their every reservation and
>politely decimated it, and then they informed us that they were going to
>write a letter to the WRC saying they would join if these changes were made
>and sincerely, with straight faces, asked us it sign onto their letter
>because "it would be so much more powerful." So we told them how their
>reservations were either factually untrue, ineffective, or irrelevant. So
>they said they'd get us the letter by tomorrow so we can decide whether we
>want to sign it or not. I didn't know whether to laugh or scream (I should
>mention I hate negotiations and would much rather be planning an
>underwear-only protest with james nussbaumer, who would make a wonderful
>WRC rep. incidentally).
>
>So that's the long lead-in, the question is: where do we go from here?
>Everyone has mixed feelings over the talks now, and several possible
>strategies have emerged. Over the background of this is that next week is
>finals and people are burning out, checking out, and I'm vacillating
>between intensely passionate and utterly bored (not that my state is
>particularly important, i'm just the guy that's supposed to talk to USAS).
>
>1. Stay conciliatory, refute their points, whatever happens on May 9th
>(Decision-deadline) happens. We could proceed with planning another direct
>action for May 10th (graduation) or just wait 'till next year, when we can
>actually mobilize. Summer may rejuvenate us (most organizers are
>returning) or maybe we'll all have moved on.
>
>2. Give up on talks/negotiations as the process. Maybe another action for
>as soon as possible citing admins, unwillingness to talk in good faith if
>we break the agreed. Maybe use next meeting (wed) to invite community
>supporters, endorsing campus groups, student senate to come tell the CFO
>how mad they are at him.
>
>3. Pursue more tangential actions. Target sympathetic trustee members (we
>have leads), administrators families, sympathetic political officials.
>Step up the postcard-writing.
>
>I guess I just want to know what you think we should do, taking into
>account a lowered ability to mobilize. Personally, I would love to just
>occupy again because I'm angry, but I don't know what we can do with only 2
>weeks of any effectiveness to play with. It seems that we just have to
>wait.
>
>This is hard for me because when we planned the sit-in we were frustrated
>with our long and imperfect campaign + wanted to use our last resort (an
>occupation), get arrested, and move on to other things, and now we're
>contemplating another semester-- this is very frustrating.
>
>I don't actually think anyone will read this far, but this email is mostly
>masturbatory public venting. Anyway, 'lil help?
>-Danny from USC
Trina Tocco
1310 Merrill
Kalamazoo, MI 49008
cell 616-873-1000
school 616-343-6054
permanent 586-792-6484
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