Rally and sit-in at President Dennison's office results in 9 arrests

On Wednesday April 16, nine students entered University of Montana President George Dennison's office and refused to leave until the administration signed on in support of an anti-sweatshop policy called the Designated Suppliers Program (DSP). Over one hundred students and community members rallied outside the administration's office in solidarity with the students sitting-in. The University administration later arrested the nine students, and charged them with criminal trespassing and disorderly conduct.

For two years, students and community members throughout Missoula have been requesting that UM not purchase its apparel made in sweatshops. Students for Economic and Social Justice (SESJ) have organized rallies, fashion shows, letter deliveries, petitions, May Day celebrations, and street theater to convince the University administration to adopt a policy, which would ensure that Griz Gear is produced under fair working conditions. President Dennison and Vice President Foley refused to adopt the DSP – a program that 42 leading institutions of higher education around the country have already endorsed.

"I think it is unfortunate that the University of Montana administration chose to arrest students who were peacefully protesting, rather than tackle the real problem of ensuring that U of M apparel is not produced in sweatshops," said SESJ-member Kelly Driscoll.

The administration was reluctant to sign on in support of the DSP because of legal concerns, but the students argued that the University could issue a conditional letter of support for the program. The 42 other schools who have adopted the DSP, including the University of Washington and Washington State University, have issued similar conditional statements, and these colleges aren't going to implement the program until a positive review letter is received by the Department of Justice in the future.

"We want the University to take a stand against sweatshops by joining the DSP Working Group as a member, to create the conditions necessary to make the program work in the future," said Ella Torti, a student who was arrested and a member of SESJ. "Other big public universities have cited legal issues they want to see resolved before the DSP is implemented, and I don't see why UM can't issue a similar conditional statement in support of the program," Torti said.

The sit-in ended two hours after Main Hall officially closed, with students being handcuffed and then released into the outer lobby. They were greeted by over 50 student supporters, and later the University administration announced that President Dennison would meet with SESJ to negotiate whether to sign on to the DSP next Wednesday. This week, SESJ will be reaching out to its faculty allies to persuade the administration to drop all charges and move forward with signing onto the DSP. Additionally, on Monday SESJ members who were arrested will be holding an information session and teach-in to educate the University community about their sweatfree campaign. For more information, please feel free to email SESJ at montanasesj@gmail.com, and visit www.montanasitin.net.