Kim Pearson

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Meredith Edwards

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Edwards2@tcnj.edu

December 1, 2000—Ewing, NJ…A group of three people representing the anti-sweatshop movement entered the classroom of Professor Kim Pearson in order to convince her Professional Writing students not to allow Nike to sponsor the Junior Golf Program at the College this summer. The group interrupted a lecture and refused to cooperate with Pearson’s request for them to leave.

Janet Gray, a Women’s and Gender Studies Professor and the leader of the group, said that if Nike sponsors the program it would result in a, "Public relations nightmare for the college."

According to Gray, sweatshops violate the rights of many individuals, especially those of women and children. "These rights include the freedom of security, the right to health standards, and the right to defend human dignity," said Gray.

The Junior Golf Program will be a two-week camp held at The College that will give underprivileged children the opportunity to learn the sport with professionals and to play in tournaments. However, some students on campus don’t want Nike to sponsor the program because Nike is linked with sweatshops.

In contrast to Gray’s opinion, the majority of the Professional Writing class agreed that Nike should fund the program because Nike’s sponsorship is compatible with The College’s mission statement, the program will be beneficial to the community, and it would increase the school’s publicity.

According to Gray, the school could ask the Coalition of Socially Responsible Athletes and/or Hollywood Against Sweatshops to sponsor the program in lieu of Nike.

The College of New Jersey provides academically prepared students with a challenging undergraduate education and a rewarding residential experience, small classes and a prestigious faculty. TCNJ has been recognized nationally for its excellence including in U.S. News and World Report, The Fiske Guide to Colleges, Barron’s Profiles of American Colleges, Peterson’s Competitive Colleges and as a "Top Ten Best Buy" every year Money magazine published its survey. The College of New Jersey is located on 289 tree-lined acres in suburban Ewing, NJ.

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