The University Record, August 16 , 1999 By Joel Seguine
News and Information Services
The University announced July 26 that a letter signed by Athletic Director Tom Goss had been sent to all manufacturers licensed to use U-M logos on their goods, requiring them to disclose the location of each site at which those goods are produced.
The requirement is part of the University’s Anti-Sweatshop/Human Rights Policy released in March. The disclosure requirement is also a principle in the code of conduct drafted by a task force, facilitated by the Collegiate Licensing Company (CLC), that included U-M and 12 other universities that use the CLC as their licensing agency.
The letter states that the requirement to disclose manufacturing sites will be added to all licensing agreements effective no later than Jan. 1, 2000.
The action follows the appointment in June of an Anti-Sweatshop Advisory Committee, also called for in the U-M’s human rights policy statement. The committee, made up of 10 representatives of faculty, students and staff, is chaired by John Chamberlin, professor of public policy. According to Chamberlin, the committee will start bi-weekly meetings Sept. 10.
The committee’s charge from President Lee C. Bollinger includes recommending appropriate formal affiliations for the University for purposes of working through all aspects of holding licensees accountable for the fair and humane treatment of workers.
