ON CAMPUS
MICHIGAN DAILY: Two-and-a-half months ago, it appeared that Michigan would renew its contract with Nike to provide athletic footwear and apparel for the Michigan Athletic Department through August 2006. But Nike director of college sports marketing Kit Morris told The Michigan Daily Thursday that the company has withdrawn from negotiations with the University and that he "doesn't foresee reentry." "There was a meeting of the minds and it became apparent that we couldn't agree to terms," Morris said. (Michigan made the) "requirement that we would have to live by an undisclosed code of conduct that would require Nike to adhere to any demands made during the contract." Michigan interim athletic director Bill Martin said Michigan's support of the Workers Rights Consortium led to Nike's withdrawal . . . AP: The president of the University of Michigan says he has no problem with losing a licensing agreement with Nike Inc. that could have brought the school millions of dollars. Lee Bollinger said the university's commitment to human rights outweighed any financial advantage it could have gotten by renewing its six-year agreement with the sports apparel maker.
CLAREMONT COLLEGE: Our bravest are still locked down in our administration building, and in need of support . . . Negotiations [on behalf of Aramark workers] are going well but this needs to remain a 5-College struggle. Our main focus is on Pomona President Stanley. It's alumni weekend so the fireworks are about to start crackin'. Those in the building are prepared to stay as long as needed. A recent survey of 136 workers found: 78% earn less than 8$ an hour. 44% lack health coverage 91% have no retirement benefits. 51% report managers who don't appreciate their work. 79% want Aramark to recognize their signed union authorization cards.
OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY: As the deadline for the impending strike approaches, Local 4501, Communications Workers of America (representing service and skilled trade workers at the Ohio State University), together with student, faculty, and community activists, are stepping up the struggle. Today, at 8 AM, about one thousand workers and supporters marched ten blocks from the union hall at 27 Euclid Ave. to Bricker Hall -- the administration building on campus -- stopping the traffic along on the way. Workers, students, and other supporters have occupied Bricker Hall since Wed., April 26, and today is the fourth day of the sit-in. The building has become a "Liberated Area" and strike headquarters. The sit-in will continue until the OSU management will meet all the demands of Local 4501 . . . On April 28, President Kirwan, forced to stay away from his office and to move a meeting to the Fawcett Center, reportedly said that he would use "whatever means necessary" to stop the "disturbance" at Bricker Hall.
YOSHIE FURUHASHI mailto:furuhashi.1 at osu.edu MARK D. STANSBERY mailto:walk at igc.org