The sweatshop issue is highly complex, and many of us, frustrated by the contradictions that present themselves and our inability to get a straight answer, prefer to leave the decision to Harvard's managers. We want to trust them to do what's best.

But Harvard's history shows that this isn't a good idea. Harvard currently owns $16 million worth of combined stock in Kohl's and Target department stores, both of which sell clothing that is produced in notorious sweatshops. Last June, an attempt to organize for an eight-cents-per-item raise was brutally crushed by management in a factory producing clothes for Kohl's and Target, which fired hundreds of workers to teach them a lesson, according to the National Labor Committee. Harvard's sizable holdings give it the power to influence their labor policies, and yet Harvard has taken not even issued a statement. The Harvard Corporation stubbornly held out for years before agreeing to partially divest from apartheid South Africa, and then only after strenuous protests and alumni refusals to donate. It is hard to have faith that Harvard will do the right thing in the case of sweatshops without serious prodding from students, faculty and alums.

Harvard released its report to the community three weeks ago. Now the ball is in our court. If having our consumer goods manufactured under decent conditions is important to us, we must let the University know we consider joining the WRC a priority. This means signing petitions, calling our deans and asking our friends to do the same. By owning a Harvard T-shirt, a pair of sweats or even a Harvard keychain, we are all implicated in the abuse and underpayment of workers. And as long as we allow Harvard to do nothing, we are condoning its policies.

Madeleine S. Elfenbein is a first-year living in Pennypacker.