Atlixco, Mexico, Derby, N.Y. and Purwakarta, Indonesia. all are home to factories that have been accused of violating the rights of workers. These same locales are also home to the producers of university apparel. This possibility has been acknowledged by the Student Union, thereby instigating interest in the Worker's Rights Consortium (WRC). If Brandeis becomes affiliated with the WRC, codes of conduct -- intended to ensure the rights of workers in factories that create university goods -- will be adopted.

Anti-sweatshop sentiment is not only evident in the desire to join the WRC. The Activist Resource Center (ARC) recently signed Brandeis up to be an affiliate of United Students Against Sweatshops (USAS).

Unlike USAS, the WRC has investigative protocols that provide procedures and methods of reporting non-compliance and compliance with applicable labor rights. The WRC acts as an informant, issuing public factory reports.

Over 100 colleges and universities are affiliated with the WRC. And, Brandeis may be the next to join.

Student Union President Ben Brandzel and ARC are working on a semester-long effort with a coalition of students to research the matter and join the WRC.

"The best way we know of to find out where and how our apparel is made and to ensure we do not engage in egregious exploitation is by joining the WRC," Brandzel said.

"The stories of these young women forced to work 16 hour days at the sewing machine, subjected to repeated kicking, slapping, punching and all manner of personal degradation, have compelled me to take responsibility for the role of my community in this global travesty," Brandzel said, recalling the Bangladeshi sweatshop workers whom he spoke to following their presentation last semester. "As a consumer, we must chose sides -- consciously or otherwise. I am merely saying that we should do so with our eyes open, and we should choose wisely."

According to Brandzel, the Student Union will first work with students who advocate the cause to spread knowledge about the Brandeis apparel and its correlation with global labor issues to the Brandeis community. He said the next step is to convince the administration to investigate sweatshop labor involvement in production of Brandeis apparel, "most likely by joining the WRC."

"We are motivated by our simple belief that our university name and seal must be connected to our values," Brandzel said. "To have these symbols of our community, which we wear with pride everyday, literally tainted with the blood of oppression is a moral abomination. We deserve apparel that makes us proud of what it stands for, and where it comes from.