October 16, 2001
By Saeed at San Diego State University

Dear friends,

It is with great joy that I write these words, others and I have waited over a year and a half to bring you this news and become part of a giant step in the right direction. San Diego State University has agreed to become affiliated with an independent monitoring organization, the Worker Rights Consortium.

After countless SAS meetings, hundreds of emails, letters to the Daily Aztec, a mock sweatshop fashion show, a human rights evening/vigil with Amnesty Int'l, a "make SDSU, sweatshop-free, join the WRC" rally, several CAL council meetings, several AS meetings, three Aztec Shops corporate board meetings, a letter from U.S. congressman Bob Filner, a collegiate basketball anti-Nike Kukdong action at Cox Arena, campus chalkings, GAP actions, various conferences, a five-page proposal, several visits to the President's office, (others I can't recall) and one meeting with President Weber, San Diego State University, the largest school in the California State University system, becomes the 87th institution on the WRC! Endless thanks to the members of our group and our allies on campus and of course, United Students Against Sweatshops nation-wide for their inspiration, encouragement and support.

Why did we do all this? Why do we care about sweatshops? Here are a few reasons why we dedicated ourselves to the campaign:

• General belief that people should be treated with respect and dignity. Ethics, morals, values, etc. Our fashion should not be their slavery!
• Exercising our student power. Students are essential to the university, we pay to attend and should have some say in what "business" the university engages itself in. Encouraging the university to use its clout and power to take a stand for human and worker rights.
• Get our university out of the global sweatshop system that exploits people on all continents, of all races, and of all cultures. By perpetuating the aims and good work of groups like the WRC we can effect the collegiate apparel industry, which affects the larger apparel industry.
• Challenging corporate power (and greed). Corporations have far too much power and influence (that goes unchecked) throughout many aspects of our lives. Profit is repeatedly put before people, time and time again. The global economy indirectly and directly effects us all as globalization becomes increasingly more significant.

Personally, I would like to thank three incredible individuals: Jeff Brown, Dale Weaver and Koa Rosa who were there from the very beginning and for their tireless support and endless enthusiasm throughout the campaign.

If you would like to e-mail our President for finally coming to his senses, (please do!) Dr. Stephen Weber: sweber@mail.sdsu.edu

If you would like to view the letter from Congressman Filner to Weber: www.geocities.com/sweatfree/letter2 and/or the letter of recommendation from Weber: www.geocities.com/sweatfree/letter.html

What do we want? WRC - Did we get it? YES!!!!!!!!!!

In solidarity, peace and justice

Saeed