So first and foremost, Villanova has officially terminated our licensing agreement with Russell Athletics!! It is the whole shebang, including a depletion clause where Russell has 60 days to get rid of any Villanova apparel with their emblem on it. This is a huge success for the VU Sweat-Free Coalition and I'll be sure to post more information on this as it is made available.
Second, this past Friday was the Villanova Senate Meeting. The Mission and Social Justice Committee submitted a proposal requesting that administration including Ken Valosky, the VP of Finance; Vince Nicastro, the director of Athletics; Bob Steitz the senior associate for external operations; and Frank Henninger, the director of the VU Bookstore. This team of administrators will review the Designated Supplier Program and discuss how they believe the DSP will affect Villanova. They are scheduled to report back to the Mission and Social Justice Committee and the Progressive Student Network by October of 2009.
As you may have noticed, this 'taskforce' (they are not actually named a taskforce by the Senate) looks a little disproportionate in terms of their pre-existing perspectives on the DSP. Bob Steitz was quoted in the Villanovan stating that Villanova will not sign on to the DSP. Frank Henninger also has concerns regarding who he could/could not sell in the bookstore. All of these members have stated that they agree to the DSP conceptually, which is the first step. Now it is up to PSN to ensure these adminstrators that their are no business concerns related to signing on to the DSP.
In order to maintain regular contact with administration regarding our position on these issues, we must maintain periodic contact with these officials. This will be discussed and the Progressive Student Network's next meeting along with incorporating Villanova on the 'Worker Tour' where two union leaders of the Jerzees de Honduras Factory speak at Villanova.
That means that the VU Sweat-Free Coalition is comprised of 6 student organizations!
