There has been "a shift among students toward a center-right point of view, more concerned with what makes sense," Shapiro said in May.

Lobbying for Labor

PSLM continued to fight for worker's rights throughout the year--but without attracting large amounts of concern or attention from students.

In early November, PSLM distributed leaflets at the Business School and protested for better working conditions for Teamsters striking in Peabody, Mass. And in October, 14 members of PSLM, led by Daniel M. Hennefeld '99, joined 300 protesters marching through Boston to demand better working conditions for workers in factories.

These smaller protests culminated in a larger attack on Harvard's alleged use of companies that exploit workers to produce its insignia clothing. PSLM organized a petition drive outside the Science Center in the late spring to present to Harvard.

"We must end the abuse and harassment of workers," Hennefeld said. "A code of conduct must let [employers] know that they can't take advantage of workers or make them feel inferior."

On April 14, more than 100 students assembled at the steps of University Hall to protest sweatshops and to listen to speakers from campus organizations and factory workers. Harvard Students for a Sweat-Free Campus organized the rally.

The University has agreed to reconsider its policy in response to the protests. According to Vice President and General Counsel Ann Taylor the University is still composing a code of conduct. PSLM students are negotiating with Harvard's attorneys.

But the students' initiative did not gather the momentum or full-campus attention which Jiang's visit did.

Shapiro said the discrepancy is simple to explain. "[Sweatshops] are an ambiguous issue. It's not cut and dry," he said. "Students are too sophisticated to believe it's a cut-and-dry issue." He added that the issue behind the protests against Jiang was more clear cut and easier for students to take a stand on.

Morgan agreed that small numbers of students protest with PSLM and other activist organizations, but he pointed out that a few, vocal students can have large effects on the community. He said he is not disappointed by the student response because he acknowledges reality.

This is, after all, Harvard, he said.

"Harvard is designed to reproduce the upper class," Morgan said. "Activism is contrary to what a lot of people come to Harvard hoping to do."