"Having the council vote on this issue sends a strong message to the administration that this is an issue that students care a lot about," said McKean, who is also a Crimson editor. "It solidifies the strong support that we already had."

"What I'd like to see happen is [for the bill] to give PSLM a vote of confidence and some legitimacy when they go to speak to the administration," said council President Fentrice D. Driskell '01.

The bill's detractors said the debate did not give FLA supporters a chance to defend the organization.

"I'd like to get to hear both sides of the issue," said John P. Marshall '01, a council representative.

Marshall also said the council overstepped its bounds in approving such a politicized bill.

"The council should focus on student concerns, things that directly affect students," he said. "This didn't have a whole lot to do with student governance."

But Driskell said the protests on campuses throughout the nation made the issue of sweatshop policy a primary student concern.