Marianthe Boyle's class assignment for English 250
Date: November 30, 2000
To: Jesse Rosenblum
From: Marianthe Boyle, Director of Communications
Re: PGA Golf Tournament in Trenton
In this upcoming June 2001, the city of Trenton, along with The College of
New Jersey in Ewing will be planning a two-day golf tournament. The
tournament, which will take place at Mountain View Club in Trenton, will be
sponsored by NIKE and will feature golf celebrity Tiger Woods.
What is the Objective of the Tournament?
The objective of the tournament is to introduce the sport of golf to
inner-city children I Trenton, and expose the citizens of Trenton to
something they may not have had an interest in previously. Such an event
may give the city of Trenton, which has held somewhat of a poor reputation
in the state of New Jersey, more recognition among the citizens of New
Jersey. Children who attend the event will also receive free NIKE products,
such as golf balls, golf bags, etc.
The event will also give The College of New Jersey much deserved
recognition amongst prospective students in the state of New Jersey. It
will also give the current students a chance to involve themselves in a
high-profile activity. The students will be interacting with the attending
children, and may serve them as positive influences and role models.
What are the Benefits Surrounding the Tournament?
As previously stated, both the citizens in the city of Trenton and the
students and staff at The College of New Jersey will benefit from the
tournament.
The people of Trenton will have an opportunity to gain exposure and
potential respect that they may not have from neighboring towns and areas in
the Mercer County area. Children will have a good time, have an opportunity
to meet different children, and have an opportunity to meet a celebrity.
The opportunity to meet a celebrity such as Tiger Woods does not come along
very often for most children, especially those that reside in the city of
Trenton. The children will also receive new equipment donated by NIKE,
which is something that most children living in the Trenton area are unable
to afford. The equipment produced by NIKE is ver expensive, and considered
as one of the highest quality sporting gear. The city of Trenton itself
will have an opportunity to gain the recognition as New Jerseyˇ¦s most
notable and influential cities in the state of New Jersey
The students and staff at The College of New Jersey will have the
opportunity to become better known through out the state of New Jersey and
the East Coast. While there was a time when The College, formerly known as
Trenton State College, did not want to be associated with the city of
Trenton, this is a chance for The College to work with the city of Trenton
to plan an event beneficial to both the city and the school together. It
may improve the number of incoming freshman, which will help make the
college more diverse. The students will have an opportunity to involve
themselves in a community activity, which will not only benefit their
character, but will benefit their career prospects post-graduation.
How does the tournament carry out the intent of The College of New Jerseyˇ¦s
Mission Statement?
The College of New Jersey's Mission Statement states that part of the
college's goals within the next three years include:
 | Building community by creating spaces, programs, initiatives, and administrative structures to enhance academic and creative accomplishment |
| Broadening the perspectives of The College community by encouraging more students, faculty, and staff to
take part in intercollegiate and international exchange programs and professional associations, welcoming more reciprocal visits by students,
faculty, staff, and professional from outside The College, and promoting increased study of, and participation in, the global community. This tournament could very well be a perfect way for The College to not only broaden the horizons of the current students and to open their eyes to what surrounds them outside The College community, but will also allow the students to look at the world perhaps from a different perspective. Are there any negative concerns? NIKE is known to be one of the leading sporting gear companies in the world. They are also known, however, to have questionable practices in their labor. NIKE has been rumored to have been using sweatshops as part of their labor practices, which is something that The College of New Jersey strongly opposes. NIKE has been protested by organizations such as United Students Against Sweatshops (USAS), and many have concerns regarding the fact that while the tournament is supposed to place The College and the city of Trenton in a positive light, it just may have the opposite effect due to NIKE's use of sweatshops. Although the happenings in these sweatshops are unclear, sweatshops are known to be torturous and brutal. Sweatshops use children as workers, and use them for a 16-hour shift. If a quota is not met, the workers, even the women and children will be severely punished. Is a company that performs such practices a company that The College of New Jersey wants to involve themselves with? Solutions? These are all concerns and questions facing The College in regard to the practices of NIKE. There is a double-edged sword. The College, on one hand, should not associate with a company that performs such practices. On the other hand, the tournament is a beneficial event, and may not occur without proper funding and sponsorship. The College will have to consider what is more important to the students and staff-Good promotion for The College or The College's Integrity and Beliefs. |