2008 Woodie Awards
Purdue hunger strike reaches 17 days
By: Katie Ramsey
Issue date: 12/4/06 Section: News
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Students began a hunger strike Nov. 17 after several attempts to persuade the Purdue administration to adopt the policy of the Designated Suppliers Program, a program requiring manufacturers of Purdue collegiate apparel to abide by certain standards, including legal and workers' rights issues.
"We pretty much exhausted other options," said Nathan Jun, professor of philosophy and literature at Purdue's main campus.
"We tried lots of strategies. They were ineffective."
Since discovering Purdue apparel is being made with sweatshop labor, students have asked the administration to adhere to the DSP.
They also requested the university to seek manufacturers that conform to Purdue's Code of Conduct so workers receive a living wage and allow a democratic union to be formed, according to purduehungerstrike.org.
Students resorted to boycotting, sit-ins and even dance-ins at Purdue President Martin Jischke's office.
Their attempts at reform were unsuccessful, but not unseen.
"Support for the campaign is overwhelming," said Jun, who is also a hunger strike participant. "We received numerous e-mails expressing solidarity."
Support from outsiders comes in all forms. Donations of juice surround the headquarters for the boycotting students, a camp set up in the Stewart Center.
But along with supporters came some detractors. Other students occasionally taunted the starving students.
"In one occasion, a student threw Taco Bell bags at us," said Jun.
No students have dropped out from the hunger strike despite the taunting, noticeable weight loss and fatigue. No cases of hospitalization or medical assistance have been necessary. The most severe case of fatigue involved a student passing out on a stairwell and vomiting.
Protesting students had yet to hear a response from Jischke or other administrators. On Nov. 30 Jischke allegedly agreed to meet with students on Dec. 6- effectively raising the strike to 20 days without food.
After a group of faculty, labor union and student organization members lent their support and marched toward Jischke's office with a petition signed by 1,500 supporters in hand, a decision to move the meeting up to Dec. 1 was made.
Although meetings with President Jischke were rescheduled, Jun hoped for an immediate meeting for the sake of the exhausted students.
"[There is] no reason why he can't meet with us sooner," said Jun.
The protesters say they are prepared to continue the hunger strike if the policy is not implemented.
"[The university is] very unlikely to agree to adopt the DSP," said Jun. "Well, we'll keep hunger-striking."
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Sam
posted 12/05/06 @ 10:56 AM CST
At least three students have had to receive medical attention so far. The meeting was not rescheduled for December 1st. In fact we are still meeting with the president tomorrow, the 6th, and holding a rally outside the building at 10:30 am. (Continued…)
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