News
Dennison says 'No' to workers' rights agreement
UM President George Dennison talks with SESJ members, Kendra Kallevig, far right, Katie Pritchard, Hunter Baldwin, and ASUM Vice President Tara Ness during the meeting with the SESJ in the UC Wednesday morning. The SESJ made a peaceful effort to have the DSP form signed, which was turned down by Dennison, after a sit-in protest at the Main Hall last week. (Hugh Carey / Montana Kaimin)
Story by Mark Page | April 24, 2008
Montana Kaimin
The meeting between University of Montana President George Dennison and members of Students for Economic and Social Justice scheduled after last week’s sit-in began at 11:30 a.m. And Dennison walked out at 11:37 a.m.
He gave the students an emphatic “no” to their demands, saying nothing had changed as a result of their actions.
“Until the issues surrounding the (Designated Suppliers Program) are resolved, the University will not sign onto the DSP,” Dennison told the students. “I’m not here to debate.”
The DSP is a worker’s rights agreement that if signed would limit UM’s garment purchases to companies that get their clothes from factories with acceptable labor standards.
UM has already joined the Worker’s Rights consortium, which would manage the DSP, allowing the group to look into the track record of source factories.
Dennison did say UM would send a representative to the DSP’s working group in Washington D.C. in June. The group is made up of university administrators from schools that have signed onto the program. Participating schools meet to decide how the program works. Because UM has not signed on, they would only be observers at the conference.
Dennison was on a trip to Asia last week when nine students staged their sit-in, taking over his office in Main Hall. It was then that Executive Vice President Jim Foley arranged the meeting.
“I wasn’t here when this meeting was arranged,” Dennison said.
This started the seven-minute-long meeting, which was punctuated by long silences after Dennison said he would not change his mind.
For their participation in the sit-in, nine students were charged with disorderly conduct and criminal trespass. These charges carry maximum penalties of a $1,000 fine and/or one year in jail, and a $500 fine and/or six months in jail, respectively.
The nine students must appear before Judge Don Louden’s municipal court before May 1. They have not yet decided on a lawyer.
“You all can do as you like, but understand there are consequences for your actions,” Dennison said.
Dennison said until concerns that the program violates anti-trust laws are quashed, UM will not consider signing on, even conditionally. The program is seeking a letter from the U.S. Department of Justice approving the DSP, but they won’t seek this letter until the spring.
Kendra Kallevig, one of the students involved with the sit-in, asked Dennison for a promise to sign onto the DSP once this letter came through.
He emphatically refused this promise, but said once the program is approved he will consider it.
Kallevig said she was very unhappy with this outcome, and one member of SESJ at the table was in tears.
“We are disgusted and disappointed with this decision,” Kallevig told Dennison.
At this point SESJ will continue to try to drum up support to make their case to the administration, said SESJ member Katie Pritchard. Though it does not look like Dennison is going to budge.
Pritchard is currently working on getting support from more students, local labor unions, national labor unions and local politicians.
“Ultimately he has decided the voices of students don’t matter,” Pritchard said.
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Comments
HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA.
Nice job children!
Any more bright ideas on how your childish “protests” are going to change the administration’s mind?
“I participated in a nine-person sit in that accomplished nothing and all I got was this lousy criminal charge.”
But hey, sounds like you’re going to take the case to the students. Maybe you should go do some sit-ins in some dorm rooms! Or maybe burn some bras and make some anti-Nixon posters.
And nice job bawling like a little crybaby there at the table. Nothing says “We have valid concerns that we would like to discuss in rational means” like a protestor choking on their sobs because they just realized they went to jail only to hear the decision maker tell you it was pretty much a waste of your time.
Reality sucks, doesn’t it? You people are a joke. The president of this university treated you like the joke you are.
And the joke is so funny, I even laughed.
HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA.
YOU LOSE.
BYE NOW.
Posted by Fred Stapleton on 04/24/2008 at 2:43 am
Wow. SESJ is not a “joke” and not childish in any way except for believing in ideals, which would make me “childish” to boot. I find it disappointing that you feel that issues such as the university acting responsibily in making sure the labor going into products it sells are held to the same comparative standards as labor is at the university are a “joke.”
I would hope that one day you will realize that what this program stands for is helping those that are less fortunate than us merely by most just the place of their birth.
Posted by Sean Schilke on 04/24/2008 at 3:05 am
If you can tell me where I called your CAUSE a joke, I’ll stop commenting.
But I didn’t do that. I called out your TACTICS as a joke, and childish to boot.
Even if you were asking for Dennison to agree to something as universally accepted as an anti-racism agreement, you had better not pull stunts or he’s going to ignore the message and remember nothing but your boorish tactics.
Quit trying to conflate criticism of your baby half-ass protest with criticism of the anti-sweatshop ideals. Nobody’s doing that, and it’s not fair to pretend they are.
Posted by Fred Stapleton on 04/24/2008 at 3:17 am
I suppose I misinterpeted the statement. “You people are a joke.” as saying that SESJ was a joke.
I do find it interesting that becuase I said that SESJ wasn’t a joke &c, that you immediately assumed I was a part of SESJ, however.
Posted by Sean Schilke on 04/24/2008 at 3:22 am
Oh no, Sean, you didn’t misinterpret that line. When I saw SESJ is a joke, I mean SESJ is a joke.
Their anti-sweatshop cause may be noble or thoughtful.
But SESJ—and CAJA before it—is a joke. Always has been. Always will be.
Posted by Fred Stapleton on 04/24/2008 at 3:25 am
Fred, I am surprised by the level of anger expressed in your posts! You must have been abused by political activists in the past. Despite that past hurt, I would hope that you could try to be civil, rather than call some of the brightest and most outspoken students on campus names. Where is your evidence that the SESJ’s tactics have been at all counterproductive? The SESJ has been in consultation with a lawyer and they have pursued all of the proper political channels before they moved on to civil disobedience, which has a long history of being particularly effective as a last resort. Directly after last year’s sit-in, Dennison signed on to the Workers Rights Consortium. The condescending disrespect that Dennison has recently shown students only highlights the fact that we now have to go over his head by approaching the governor and the Board of Regents.
Posted by Sean Gibbons on 04/24/2008 at 10:51 am
I feel that this argument has started to become one-sided in this campaign. To be honest, I support both sides. I believe that the DSP is a great program that increases social awareness of sweatshops and protects workers from being abused and taken advantage of. But I understand where Dennison has to look out for the good of the university first. Until the department of justice decides that the DSP is not in violation of anti-trust laws, then the signing of the DSP will equate to putting the university into legal jeopardy. What if the university signs the agreement, the DOJ decides that it is in violation of antitrust law, and someone files suit against the university? Are you will to have tuition raised because of lawsuits against the school?
I think that maybe we should be shifting gears here. Maybe we need to petition the DOJ to make a decision about the DSP now. Maybe we need to work to create a provisional contract that says that the university will conditionally support the DSP as long as it is found to be in violation of no international or US law. Maybe we need to work with Dennison and see what we can do to help the university support the DSP.
Posted by Jon Dempersmier on 04/24/2008 at 1:52 pm
I find it interesting that “Fred Stapleton” is actually Sean Breslin. Why do you have to hide behind a fake name? I guess it shows your true character. You enjoy having fights and acting like a child while no one knows its you. Real mature Sean.
Posted by Jake Childers on 04/24/2008 at 3:12 pm
Sean Breslin: what a shame that you must adopt an alias in order to elicit commentary on your own publication’s website. Much of which is baseless commentary, I might add. As one of your peers once noted, you’re crossing the line.
I can’t imagine what sort of spineless tactics you’ll have in the real world when you’re no longer running the Kaimin. Your actions make me loose hope in journalism. I thought you were a cool journalist, but it turns out you’re just a guy who calls himself Fred and comments on stories before they’re even published. Bravo, chief.
Posted by Katie on 04/24/2008 at 3:18 pm
Jake-
I have not posted any comments on this site or anywhere else that I have not attributed to myself. I’ve always been very upfront with my opinions and my ownership of them.
Feel free to discuss this further with me in person if you’d like. The Kaimin office is in Don Anderson Hall, Room 208.
Sean Breslin
Editor, Montana Kaimin
(406) 243-2394
Posted by Sean Breslin on 04/24/2008 at 3:23 pm
There is no individual by the name “Fred Stapleton” enrolled at the University of Montana. Also, somehow this individual is capable of replying to all if the Kaimen articles within minutes of there posting. Sean, you have been accused of hiding behind alias before in order to leave comments on the Kaimin website, this information has been attained from your fellow peers and Kaimin staff .
Posted by Jake Childers on 04/24/2008 at 3:35 pm
The simple and easiest way to resolve this dispute is produce the “Fred Stapleton” in question. Kaimin policy apparently is not to publish comments from anonymous sources, and a pseudonym is just that. Find Fred!
Posted by Sean Morrison on 04/24/2008 at 3:56 pm
By the way, while we are being open with our opinions, I don’t see the harm in having this conversation on the posts.
Posted by Sean Morrison on 04/24/2008 at 4:01 pm
I agree with Sean Morrison, taking into account the amount of students who have been offended by the childish remarks of this false individual Fred Stapleton, there should be a public discussion and I should not be receiving phone calls in private.
Posted by Jake Childers on 04/24/2008 at 4:12 pm
Ha! You people have the audacity to make up your own fantasy-land stories and then still expect your causes and tactics to be taken seriously?! Give me a break!
It is rich though—just RICH—to see you assuming that you think I’m Sean Breslin.
Keep up the good sleuthing, Detectives Morrison and Childers. While you’re busy pointing fingers at your accusers, you’ll spend less time in jail for trespassing and accomplishing nothing.
Oh, and sorry if this makes you cry. Obviously SESJ members have a problem with bursting out in tears in the middle of tense moments.
Ha!
Posted by Fred Stapleton on 04/24/2008 at 4:32 pm
All-
According to several IP address searches, the author of the Stapleton comments is based out-of-state.
Sean Breslin
Editor, Montana Kaimin
(406) 243-2394
Posted by Sean Breslin on 04/24/2008 at 4:39 pm
While I have no interest in taking part in the debate over who is Fred Stapleton, I must defend myself. I was the member of SESJ who shed some tears post-meeting. I believe strongly in respecting human dignity and am disgusted with the University’s choice. I’m astonished that more people are not emotional disturbed by the university’s choice to stand by while workers who produce Griz Gear are abused.
This February I attended a conference in Miami where I met apparel industry workers. I spoke with a woman who miscarried on the floor of her factory and another man who had found maggots in the food that the workers were served. It is unacceptable for the University to participate in these blatant violations of human rights, not to mention our purchasing code of conduct. I feel the need to defend my heartfelt response to President Dennison’s statement of No. I’m embarrassed for individuals who can’t see past their own self pomp and understand the responsibility the University has to Griz apparel workers.
Posted by Kelly Driscoll on 04/24/2008 at 4:44 pm
What is amazing is that the Kaimin still publishes post from the make believe “Fred Stapleton.” His comments are now enjoyable knowing that it’s a scared individual who cant even say their real name. Whether it is Sean Breslin or not, (though many believe it is) he should bear some responsibility and abide by Kaimin policy that does not allow people to post with an anonymous name. Coincidentally Sean has allowed for this individual to make post under a false name for far too long. Fred is not from out of state, look at the post, the information. There is nobody that interested in UM’s school news from out of state. For those of you who this make believe Stapleton attempts to offend, simply laugh it off, its just a scared individual. And because he is going to post a childish reply to this, I look forward to the entertainment.
Posted by Jake Childers on 04/24/2008 at 7:14 pm
Clearly, Mr. Stapleton is not going to reveal anything of himself, and suspiciously, Mr. Breslin remains unwilling to abide by Kaimin policy. Fred (If I may), some mysterious connections safeguard your identity, preserve your privileged pulpit. Others on this board have put themselves in the line of fire for their beliefs, which does indeed make a critic like you seem somewhat cowardly.
Posted by John Galt on 04/24/2008 at 7:49 pm
Make believe? Ouch! Sounds like you’re attacking the person and not the argument.
But go ahead, SESJ crybabies (literally!). Make the argument about Fred Stapleton and not about the fact that your baby snit-fit protests didn’t accomplish a thing.
Hey I have an idea! Let’s a good old-fashioned sit-in here in the Kaimin message board! It’ll accomplish just about as much.
Yawn!
Posted by Fred Stapleton on 04/24/2008 at 9:16 pm
If Fred Stapleton is Sean Breslin, he’ll stop posting this fall, or when ever he stops caring about the University.
It’s relatively easy to use a proxy, so this “out-of-state” IP address may mean nothing.
If the email Fred uses is not just for forwarding purposes, then it should be relatively easy to ascertain the identity of the real Fred.
Posted by Sean Schilke on 04/28/2008 at 2:38 am
