-We have two energetic new members, Chris and Ryan (who has agreed to serve as our new Treasurer). Welcome to CHANGE!
-We talked everyone's interests and some potential campaign ideas. We decided that we were going to continue the fair trade coffee campaign that we started over a year ago. We didn't have time to talk too much about specific short-term goals, but Ryan mentioned that Student Anti-Racist Action (SARA) is planning a potential fair-trade coffee give-away near the new Starbucks as a way to show people the alternative to the Starbucks way of doing things. This is something that CHANGE might get involved with when we know more about it. Ryan will keep us updated. Nicole mentioned that the Kent Free Library might also be easily persuaded to carry fair trade coffee. Although the Starbucks and Kent Free Library issues are of interest to our campaign, our main goal is to get more fair trade coffee (and more awareness) on campus.
-We also affirmed the need to continue following up the anti-sweatshop code of conduct and implementing improvements and expansions to it, as well as to educate students about it and about sweatshops in general. Ryan expressed particular interest in the sweatshop issue.
-United Steel Workers of America (USWA) has asked us to draft a resolution supporting the right of KSU clerical workers to form a union. USWA has been organizing on campus since last fall and is currently in the stage of collecting signatures to hold an NLRB election. We came to consensus on wanting to draft a resolution. We will be working on such a resolution at our information table next week (see below). Anyone who wants to help with this project can send a message to the listserv.
-We agreed to co-sponsor PRIDE Kent's production of the Vagina Monologues. Right now this just means granting our official support and permitting our name to be listed on promotional flyers, but the producers also welcome anyone interested in volunteering or donating money to the project.
-We decided to have an information table next week on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday. I will reserve a table and email the list to inform everyone of where it will be located. The tabling schedule so far is:
MONDAY
10-11: Chris and Mike
11-12: Chris and Ryan (and Mike if needed)
12-1: Mike (and Nicole?)
1-2: Chris, and Ryan (and Mike if needed)
TUESDAY
10-11: Mike
11-12: Mike
12-1: Chris and Mike
1-2: (no-one available)
WEDNESDAY
10-11: Chris (and Nicole?)
11-12: Chris and Ryan
12-1: Nicole?
1-2: Chris and Ryan
If you can help table, please email the list with the times and days that you are available. We could especially use help throughout Tuesday and for any other shift that has fewer than two confirmed tablers.
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
-Dr. Walter Davis is teaching a new special topic next semester: "The Role of
Sport in Empire and Democracy". If interested, contact him at wdavis@kent.edu
-Thurs, February 6th is a National Day of Action against Safeway grocery stores, in solidarity with striking workers from UFCW. Anyone interested in organizing something small and last minute, like leafletting?
-United Students Against Sweatshops (USAS) is having a national conference in Atlanta, GA February 14-15 and would like CHANGE folks to attend. Scholarships may be available. Visit http://www.studentsagainstsweatshops.org/conference/register.php if you're interested. (If you do end up attending, please let us know as well.)
All in all, we had a small yet very productive meeting. I hope to see more folks at the next one, Wednesday, February 4th at 6:00 PM in Room 303 of the Student Center.
In Solidarity,
Mike Pesa
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