Anti-Nike teach-in claims exploitation

"Nike 101" coursepacks with a cover picturing a crossed-out swoosh symbol circulated among more than 50 students and faculty at the Nike Teach-In on Friday.

Sponsored by the Just Don't Do It Campaign, which is endorsed by 17 University student groups, the two-hour class featured self-proclaimed Nike expert Kim Miyoshi. Miyoshi, a member of the non-profit activist group Global Exchange, detailed her investigations of the alleged international human rights violations of the multi-billion dollar Nike Corporation.

Just Don't Do It Campaign members also attracted attention this weekend by distributing informational fliers and soliciting petition signatures outside of Michigan Stadium before Saturday's Michigan-Ohio State game.

Rackham student Hillary Holloway said she hoped the Teach-In would give her reliable facts to make an informed decision about Nike.

"I don't agree with companies that act irresponsibly," Holloway said. "I feel I need to use my power as a consumer to influence their behavior."

Miyoshi has visited Nike factories and has spoken to workers in Hong Kong, Indonesia and China, and claims that the Nike Corporation has displayed an inexcusable "pattern of abuse and exploitation of its workers." She cited verbal and physical abuse, "sub-human wages" and the use of child labor as unacceptable realities for Nike workers.

"Nike is in China violating up to 10 labor laws," Miyoshi said, explaining that Nike "goes where they have the most oppressed labor force."

"Nike can't just keep running to the most oppressive governments. It has to be held accountable," Miyoshi said.

Miyoshi said that she does not want students "who wear clothes with the Nike swoosh to feel guilty" because many University students wear Nike clothes. Instead it is everyone's responsibility as consumers to hold Nike accountable for its actions, Miyoshi said.

Following Miyoshi's talk and a general Q&A session, the class broke up into smaller groups led by Just Don't Do It members to discuss the University's multi-million dollar contract with Nike.

The University's contract with Nike includes agreements on product supply, promotion, sponsorship, scholarship, advertisement and retail sales. Parts of the contract give exclusive rights to Nike to sell University sports apparel and require University coaches to endorse Nike products.

LSA sophomore Andrea Wright said she attended the program to build up ammunition to fight the contract.

"Companies have ethical responsibilities and not paying people enough to buy three meals a day is atrocious," Wright said.

LSA sophomore Heather Fish agreed with Wright's concerns about Nike.

"It doesn't reflect well on the University to have a contract with a company with so little respect for human rights," Fish said.

Associate philosophy Prof. Eric Lormand, one of the event coordinators, said he hopes the Just Don't Do It members will organize a debate between University students and Nike officials.

"We hope to have some public forum debating Nike because we'll win," said Lormand, who said Nike uses unfair studies on factory labor conditions to defend their practices abroad.

LSA and SNRE junior Joel Hoffman said that along with collecting more signatures for their petition, the coalition's next big step is to talk to the administration.

"We are trying to get a meeting with the Athletic Department," said Hoffman, a Teach-In coordinator.

For more information, contact the Just Don't Do It Campaign at nikerights@umich.edu.

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