Date: December 1, 2000

To: Jesse Rosenbaum, Associate Vice President, College Relations

From: Allyson Wilcox

Re: Nike Sponsorship of Junior Golf Tournament

The College of New Jersey has recently been offered the opportunity to

co-sponsor a Junior Golf tournament and summer camp with support from

Nike's Tiger Woods Foundation. The tournament will take place in the city

of Trenton in June 2001. Tiger Woods will be making an appearance at the

tournament's closing awards ceremony.

The Program

The Junior Golf Program has existed for many years. Its purpose is to

provide underprivileged children with recreational and educational

activities that they otherwise wouldn't be offered. Golf clubs, bags,

shirts, and other equipment are provided at no cost. The program is open

to children ages 4 to 18 who express an interest in the sport. Lessons

and equipment are provided for the children, who participate in

tournaments and receive information on golf scholarships and golf-related

careers.

The College

The tournament will take place in conjunction with Alumni Relations

Weekend at the College of New Jersey. Since TCNJ will be hosting the

event, all housing and other facilities will be provided by the college.

Students, student organizations, ambassadors, and other class leaders and

volunteers will be helping out with the tournament in some fashion. The

tournament will be a significant source of publicity for the college.

Nike

Nike will be the corporate sponsor of the program. It will be providing

the much-needed funds for this significantly underfunded program. Nike's

sponsorship will cover most of the financial burden and will make this

program the best that it can possibly be.

The Problem

Nike's involvement in sweatshop labor has been a concern to many

organizations on and off campus. By agreeing to co-sponsor the program

with Nike, we are associating ourselves with Nike and thereby condoning

their actions. Certain campus organizations have threatened to protest the

program.

The Solution

Despite the controversy surrounding this event, only positive effects can

come from our co-sponsorship. Co-sponsorship is a must. The College of

New Jersey has the opportunity to enhance many children's lives and offer

them experiences they otherwise wouldn't have. A very positive role

model, Tiger Woods, will be making an appearance in Trenton to encourage

and influence aspiring golfers. Trenton, a city usually looked upon

negatively, will be able to shed that negative image and build a

respectable reputation.

Final Thoughts

Forget the controversy. It is not up to us to decide whether or not

sweatshop labor is ethical or not. Most of us do not even have firsthand

knowledge of sweatshop practices or factual information regarding such.

Besides, sweatshop labor never concerned us enough before to protest Nike

clothing and other companies associated with Nike. It is a waste of time

and effort to nitpick a company's faults, especially when we are

contradicting ourselves by wearing their apparel.