In response to the “UW: ‘Just Do It'” editorial printed Nov. 4, I have a few points, the first of which is to call into question the supposed objectivity of The Badger Herald in general.

To claim that “We at UW-Madison are very proud of three things: academics, drinking and athletic programs” fails to recognize the diversity of views on this campus. Not everyone here drinks or follows sporting events. Furthermore, this statement and the editorial as a whole implies a sort of “with us or against us” worldview, ignoring the fact that those who would question Nike’s labor practices are also tuition-paying students here.

I agree that it is silly to single out one company and force only it to disclose its labor records; I think all 450 of the UW-licensed companies should be forced to disclose this information. The editorial makes it seem as though those concerned over labor issues are absurd, especially in the face of the $50,000 to be made for the university. In truth, these are the ones who know that the Nike “swoosh” really stands for the hard work performed in forced labor camps and sweatshops around the world, along with the determination to endure sub-standard conditions in order to provide for one’s family.

By running such a blatantly biased editorial piece, The Badger Herald has alienated its readers and betrayed its true agenda, which is to “persuade UW students through constant effort” that ignorance and apathy are superior to information and activism.

Mike Kruse

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I was delighted to read today’s coverage of the Student Labor Action Coalition’s campaign for wage disclosure in your conservative newspaper. This campaign exists to stop sexual abuse, child exploitation and violation of minimum wage laws in the production of sweatshirts, T-shirts and other merchandise licensed with the Bucky Badger logo. It deserves attention.

However, if the Editorial Board had actually talked to the anonymous people it describes as making “demands,” it could have avoided some important factual errors.

The first of these errors is the assertion that the Student Labor Action Coalition is against licensing with Nike. There is a level of complexity here that may be hard for some to grasp, but we have actually said that we do not want the university to license with the Herald’s beloved Nike Corporation unless it agrees to the university’s Code of Conduct.

This code is the university’s established set of rules that says that UW licensees cannot abuse workers, must allow inspections of factories and must pay a living wage. In order to verify whether they pay a living wage, we also demand that Nike disclose the amount of money its workers are paid. The Herald asserts that we demand this of only Nike, but there it is again wrong. We demand this of all licensees by saying that the university should insert wage disclosure language into its code of conduct.

Charlie Hoyt

Well, folks, the wait is over — Starbucks is hiring once again! But before you go buttering up to your references, you might be interested in a tragically amusing bit of irony. The sign on the window of the campus Starbucks reads “Create Community … Apply Within,” proudly emblazoned over a painting of an employee holding the door for some customers.

I’ve never known Starbucks to employ doormen, but even if they did, I’m sure it would not contribute to any lasting sense of community on State Street or anywhere else. I know Starbucks has its regulars, and maybe some of them even have a favorite Starbucks, but if we’re talking about community, I’d like to know whose definition of the word includes cookie-cutter chain stores.

In the aftermath of the Halloween destruction it is more important than ever to support Madison’s small-business owners or we’ll be seeing a lot more Starbucks “communities” very soon.

Katie Weber

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In the Herald crossword Nov. 4, one of the crossword statements was extremely offensive and not factual. Number 10 down stated “Land occupied by Israel since 1967.”Apparently the answer was Judea.

Judea is the land of Biblical prophecy and is a part of the state of Israel. Perhaps disputed would have been a better word. However, located in Judea is Jerusalem, which is not occupied or disputed but the eternal capital of the Jewish people. It is offensive that the newspaper needed to make an anti-Israel statement in the crossword puzzle of all places.

Glen Weinberger

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