Thursday, January 26, 2006
Twelve universities have suspended contracts with The Coca-Cola Company after allegations surfaced about abuse to workers and the environment at the company’s foreign plants.
One of the schools leading the charge is the University of Michigan, which, after being contacted to take action by factory workers in Colombia, suspended its contract with the company.
A group at the university called Coalition to Cut the Contract with Coca-Cola claims the company was behind the deaths of eight union members in Colombia through its partnership with paramilitary forces. The Coalition also claims that in India, Coca-Cola depleted the groundwater supply, causing an increased number of pesticides found in the water and soil. Coca-Cola denied any of this happened.
Lindsey Rogers, University of Michigan sophomore and member of the Coalition to Cut the Contract with Coca-Cola, said, “Coke likes to say that they’re not responsible for the action in their bottling camps, but somehow when paramilitary blockade the roads they find a way to get through.”
The University of Kansas has a contract with Coca-Cola worth $15.7 million over a 10-year span. In the 2004-2005 school year, a total of 28,563 Coke products were sold in vending machines throughout campus.
Theresa Klinkenberg, chief financial officer of the University, said no specific concerns about the subject from students had been brought to her attention. She said she couldn’t speculate about the action the University would take.
Kerry Kerr, Coca-Cola spokeswoman, said the company plans to hire an impartial, independent third-party to access the situation in Colombia. Coca-Cola also wants to meet with the University of Michigan to address the boycott, she said.
“We are committed to work with all those schools so they have the facts and we can continue to have a partnership with them in the future,” Kerr said.
Rogers said Coca-Cola sent the coalition a letter explaining what the company was going to do, but she wasn’t satisfied.
“I don’t think that’s good enough,” Rogers said. “There have been investigations in the past. The real issue is whether or not they are going to fix these problems.”
Nolan T. Jones, Pittsburg junior and communications director for KU Student Senate, said the allegations against Coca-Cola need to be fully investigated before any decision regarding the stance of the University can be made.
“At the end of the day, unless you’re a Pepsi fan, I highly doubt most members of the student body want their Senate to jump up and lead a charge against Coke unless something substantial in terms of humanitarian issues was proven,” Jones said.
— Edited by Jodi Ann Holopirek
University must re-evaluate "Killer Coke" campus
In the midst of our self-proclaimed "war on terror" it appears that ...
Battle of the brands
After the expiration of the University’s 10-year contract with the Coca-Cola Co. ...
University, Coca-Cola near end of contract negotiations
The previous contract expired in June 2007, and the two parties have ...
Student Senate provides funding for Occupy KU
The Occupy KU group will receive $200 in funding to purchase office ...
English: Why it’s time to break up ...
Coke product prices on the rise
University officials have decided to raise the price of pop in vending ...
Small firms still attract large clients
There is no room for error at companies like Apple and KU ...
Occupy KU working to localize a national ...
The group focuses on rising costs of tuition and the University's involvement ...
Mendoza: KU should cut Russell Athletic’s contract ...
KU should follow Duke, Harvard, Michigan and others in cutting their ties ...
Students help plant rain garden
Participants are volunteering to create the garden by the recreation center to ...
Pork politics
Rain garden completed on Earth Day
More than 200 volunteers plant 2,500 native Kansas plants.
University Senate considers offering financial aid program ...
A University Senate task force is finding a way to offer the ...
Free for All: May 4, 2007
I found a hat that says "Jawhawk." What does that mean?
Editorial: How Budig turned into a ‘waste’ ...
Alumnus sworn in as Colombian leader
Kansas graduate Juan Manuel Santos was sworn in as president of Colombia ...
FIJI faces hazing investigation for injury
The University placed Phi Gamma Delta fraternity under interim suspension after a ...
Protesters march for Florida farm workers
The Coalition of Immokalee Workers in Florida wants higher wages for its ...
Group cleans Fieldhouse
Chabad Comes to KU
Jewish students, or people wanting to learn more about Judaism now have ...
Activists rally at Burger King locations
The Coalition of Immokale Workers represent the Latino, Haitian and Mayan immigrants ...
Former pledges file a lawsuit against expelled ...
Speaker will address homelessness and activism
The theme of Robert Egger’s presentation will be youth empowerment to help ...
Bands to battle for $600 purse
Officials conclude investigation on private documents
Jack Martin, deputy director of communications stresses importance of document disposal.
KU group heading to Haiti
Faculty will depart on a 10-day trip to strengthen ties with the ...
Former pledges sue expelled fraternity
Playing dirty for dollars
Students for KU prepare for second annual Hawk Mud Fest to raise ...
Kansas soccer gains World Cup-caliber forward
Colombian national team member Ingrid Vidal has committed to playing for Kansas ...
Free for All: May 7, 2007
I got on the bus seat, out of the rain, and it ...
The cost of school spirit: labor in ...
Labor practices behind licensed KU apparel are difficult to track, but organizations ...
Student Senate revamps brand
Student Senate approved a $3,500 website redesign as part of a new ...
Fraternity placed on interim suspension
The University will conduct a hazing investigation of Phi Gamma Delta, also ...
Campus elections 2009: United Students
Extending the textbook refund deadline, lowering the All-Sports combo price are some ...
Baseball team tries to finish weekend above ...
The 4-3 Jayhawks travel to Arizona to for the Coca-Cola Classic, including ...
Students work with and for migrant workers
The Lawrence Fair Food prepares for this week’s events in improving conditions ...
GTAs not satisfied with health insurance
Food festival raises money for freedom march
KU student group organizes events to fight for rights of low-income farm ...
Students unite with low-wage workers
KU students and tomato harvesters in Immokalee, Fla., are fighting for fair ...
Steering Committee keeps Homecoming Week on track
Homecoming Week is for students, alumni and Lawrence.
Kansas Jayhawk fans hold aloft a reproduction of ...
2 comments
Erin Saupe, a Ph.D. student from St. Cloud, ...
1 comment
0 comments
Armed robbers continue to threaten.
3 comments
Lecture from Greg Mortenson, co-author of New York ...
0 comments
KUnited presidential candidate Libby Johnson and vice presidential ...
1 comment
Comments
Use the comment form below to begin a discussion about this content.
Sign in to comment
Or login with:
OpenID