While protests against University association with sweatshop labor have rejuvenated activism on campus this spring, the movement against sweatshop labor continues to build momentum nationally.

Both in the Ivies and at state universities, the anti-sweatshop movement began elsewhere and became more radical more quickly than at Harvard.

Though in March the Progressive Student Labor Movement (PSLM), the movement's champion at Harvard, took part in a 350-person rally, at other schools more disruptive sit-ins have been more common.

And these tactics have achieved results in many places--for instance, the University of Wisconsin's president approved what some call the most stringent sweat-shop controls in the country after a 97-hour student sit-in.

But as these schools let out for the summer, Harvard's anti-sweatshop leaders say they are satisfied with the progress of their campaign. They say they do not plan to adopt more radical tactics anytime soon.

What's in a Name?

The University of Wisconsin (UW) at Madison's anti-sweatshop group may be called MASC--the Madison Anti-Sweatshop Coalition--but its most recent successes will make sure little is hidden in regard to sweatshop labor.

After the sit-in outside the Chancellor's office in February, which came after months of protests and press conferences by anti-sweatshop forces, UW Chancellor David Ward agreed to essentially all of protestors' demands.

"Those standards [to which Ward agreed] were pretty much the strongest stuff that was passed in the country, and is being used as a model for other universities," says Erik J. Brakken, a MASC member who graduated from the UW this month.

In addition to full disclosure of factory locations and names, the provisions adopted by UW provide for a university commitment to participate in a global living wage study, a country specific living wage to be paid to all clothing workers and special protection for women in factories.

A month later at the University of Michigan, students took over the office of the president and stayed there for 51 hours, demanding an agreement like Wisconsin's.

At the end of the sit-in, the Michigan students won an agreement that included full disclosure, protection for women and a living wage for workers. Other sit-ins on the issue have taken place at Duke, Brown and Georgetown universities, the University of Arizona and the University of North Carolina.

Students at these schools and others communicate through an umbrella group called United Students against Sweatshops (USAS). They share ideas and tactics through conferences and by phone and e-mail.

But though Harvard's PSLM is tied into this network, group leaders say the situation at Harvard is progressing fast enough that no such radical tactics are needed for now.

PSLM member Eleanor I. Benko '02 says she is encouraged by other schools' gains. But though PSLM's demands are equally radical, she feels the University is negotiating in good faith.