Private Universities Implementing Public Policy
On Friday, December 9, New York University (NYU) will implement a ban on the sale of products produced by the Cola-Cola Company. This decision was made in accordance with a resolution passed by the NYU Senate on Nov 3, which gave Cola-Cola until Dec 8 to agree to a third-party protocol that would lead to an "independent investigation" about the company's human rights violations in Colombia.
Products will be pulled from all vending machines and shelves on campus. The ban will apply to all Coca-Cola products, including the Cola-Cola, Minute Maid, and Dasani brands.
So think of it...if you love Coke instead of Pepsi, students at NYU may look at you with contempt for buying something from a company that is not doing a good job in another country. Would this be a prudent action by the school? Would students concur with the same assessment?
Press Release from NYU Office of Public Affairs about ban
Update 30/12/2005:
The University of Michigan has suspended sales of Coca-Cola products on three of their campuses over allegations that the company permits human rights and environmental abuses abroad. The suspension, which begins Jan 1, will affect vending machines, residence halls, cafeterias, and campus restaurants. Coke's contracts with the university are worth about $1.4 million.
Michigan's decision was prompted by a complaint last year from the Students Organizing for Labor and Economic Equality. The group has accused Coke of draining local groundwater in India and conspiring with paramilitary groups in Colombia to harass and harm union members. The company had repeatedly denied the allegations.
At least nine schools have stopped selling Coke products, citing Colombia as one of the reasons.
Yahoo News - Michigian Suspends Coca-Cola Sales
Comments
Posted by: random
Posted on: December 14, 2005 04:00 PM
It looks that school's administration has no problem pushing their liberal agenda. Go globalization. 'They terk er jerb!'
Posted by: Joshua Terchek
Posted on: December 14, 2005 08:54 PM
Good for NYU. If we are to believe that markets are "self-correcting" based on the activities of consumers, this is a step towards a more just and equitable world. More and more individuals and orgnizations are begining to question how products were made, whether or not the workers were paid a fair wage for their labor (or in this case if there human rights were violated), the effects on the environment, etc. in order to make the world better place.
I doubt any of the NYU students would look at others in contempt for drinking a Pepsi or Coke, however they may look at you in contempt for not going to NYU, being from Ohio, etc.