UCSC Sweat Free Coalition present Chancellor with ‘sweat free’ cake

The “Fashion Show” consisted of student models showing off UCSC
apparel while an announcer described the abhorrent working conditions
where the clothing was made. From China to Lesotho, Mexico to
Pakistan, and South Africa to, yes, even the US, University of
California apparel is made with forced labor, child labor, dangerous
working conditions, and poverty wages. Despite having a Code of
Conduct rejecting the use of sweatshop labor, the UC continues to
ignore our demands that it adopt a program to ensure that the Code of
Conduct is supported by a tangible means of enforcement. It is for
these reasons that we organized this event.

After the “Fashion Show” we preceded to march to the chancellor’s
office with a carrot cake to thank her, in advance, for a public
statement in support of the Sweat Free Campus Campaign and the
Designated Suppliers Program, a policy to enforce the Code of
Conduct, which she has yet to make. We chanted as we carried banners
proclaiming “Exploitation Ain’t in Fashion” and “UC... Sweatshop?
Denton make UCSC sweat free”. The ‘sweat free, sugar free’ cake we
had made ourselves the night before.

Conveniently, Chancellor Denton was away, lunching with the Regents
at UCLA. Upon hearing this news, we then asked to speak with Ciel
Benedetto, her assistant. After a few minutes of ‘searching’, we were
told that Ciel, too, was out of the office that day. So instead, we
talked to the only two administrators that came out to see us, Tom
Vani, Vice Chancellor of Business and Administrative Services, and
Allison Galloway, Vice Provost of Academic Affairs. They asked us
questions about our reasons for being there and we explained the
issues to them. After about half an hour of talking, eating cake,
playing cards, and chillin’ in the lobby, we left our message and a
slice of cake for the Chancellor. We were assured that she would be
given her piece. That’s all we’re asking- for everyone to get their
fair peace.