Harvard Students Against Sweatshops (HSAS) yesterday distributed leaflets in Harvard Yard and delivered an open letter to the University in order to protest Harvard's investment in Kohl's, a clothing company with ties to a Nicaraguan factory with allegedly abusive labor conditions.

HSAS leaflets distributed in the Yard accused the company's factory of refusing to negotiate with unions and of violating health and safety standards.

Kohl's, in a press release on its website, denies that its connection to the factory is improper. Harvard Management Company

President Jack R. Meyer said he did not know about this particular issue and declined to comment.

HSAS began the protest by delivering a letter to the University's Advisory Committee on Shareholder Responsibility, which is composed of faculty, students and alumni. The letter asked the committee to endorse an "upcoming shareholder resolution censuring Kohl's."

The letter also urged the committee to consider writing a letter "as an independent investor" urging Kohl's to "take action regarding these factories."

About 10 HSAS members proceeded to Loeb House, where the shareholder responsibility committee's offices are, and handed the letter to Martin N.H. Liander, the associate secretary to the University.

Members of the HSAS group, who were chanting anti-sweatshop slogans, were quickly ushered out the door by Liander, who declined comment for this story.