Activisim on Campus

         Spending so much time discussing social justice issues in class has led me to look at the world around me through a different lens. I've always been interested in social justice (guess why I'm a social work major!), it's just been more active in my mind than ever before. Looking around our campus, there are social justice issues right here at U.T. Particularly, I've been thinking a lot about the campaign by U.T. Students Against Sweatshops. In the past few weeks this group's years of activism have been coming to a head, and the work they are doing is inspiring to me as a student of social work.
     The group is protesting the University's refusal to sign onto the Worker's Rights Consortium, a third party group that works to ensure humane and equitable treatment of workers. Currently U.T. is working with the Fair Labor Association (FLA). The national branch of Students Against Sweatshops cites that the FLA has "A weak code that fails to provide for women's rights, a living wage, the full public disclosure of factory locations, or university control over the monitoring process" Much of the FLA's funding comes directly from the companies, such as Nike, whom they are supposed to be monitoring, creating a clear conflict of interests. As such a huge distributor of brand merchandise (think of the University co-op; the sea of burnt orange at a football game) it is pretty important that we consider the ethics of it's production. The administration's reluctance to sign with the WRC, a group who has been proven to uphold a higher standard of treatment for workers, is a threat to the integrity and ethics of our school.
     Working conditions for laborers over seas is a big issue in our time. Recently, factories producing Apple products in China have come under public scrutiny for inhumane treatment of workers. We fought in the 17th and 18th centuries for the rights of American workers. We abolished slavery and created regulations and fail safes to prevent abuse of labor. Now, as more and more of our production moves over seas, it is important that we concern ourselves with the working conditions of those producing our good across the globe. We can't continue to congratulate ourselves for advancements in working conditions when it becomes apparent that the abuse has simply traveled overseas, out of our back yards, where it is much harder to see.
     I admire the UT SAS's efforts to create change on both a local and global level. Their tactics have included protests, sit-ins, picketing, dissemination of information, videos, and more. Some members of SAS actually traveled to one of the factories producing college apparel. The most recent demonstration by the UT branch of SAS ended in the arrest of 18 of our students. Their willingness to put themselves in harms way for the sake of their cause is admirable. SAS is a great example of purposeful social action. I think we could learn by watching their tactics and dedication. It is very easy to talk about social justice, but it takes courage and mindfulness to work for it.

Redefineing Roles

       Throughout term, we've been discussing in class how so many people, all of us really, are from time to time experience injustice due to the groups with which they identify (or, in some cases, are assumed to identify). I came across an article earlier this week in the Austin Chronicle that brings up an issue of cross-identification. Here is a link for reference: http://www.austinchronicle.com/news/2012-04-06/keeping-the-faith/
     The article concerns Texas State Representative for the Democratic party, Dawnna Dukes. A native Austinite, Dukes' Grandmother was a founding member of the Holy Cross Church on East 11th. The church was one of the first Catholic churches in Austin to allow black members. Members of the church founded a charity hospital, school, and even Meals on Wheels. As such a successful member, Dukes has spoken at the church many times over the years. However, recently has been rejected from speaking at the church due to her personal and political beliefs. Dukes is pro-choice and supports reproductive rights. The Holy Cross Church upholds Catholic ideals and is strictly against abortion. As a high-profile public official, She has been called out by the Catholic Church for her position on birth control.
     This article really interested me as a student of Social Work. It brings of the issue of cross-identifying. Dawnna Dukes is both a practicing Catholic as well as a socially liberal politician. She self identifies with multiple groups that would from a black and white perspective seem to be in conflict. Yet, she is able to reconcile this conflict for herself. And Dukes is not alone. The article mentions a group called Catholics for Choice which advocates for policy reform on a pro-choice platform. It begins to look like a very complicated social phenomenon. The Catholic Church believes strongly that by virtue of being Catholic one must also be pro-life and oppose birth control. However, some who are pro-choice still identify as Catholic. These pro-choice Catholics may feel the Church is being un-Christianlike by turning away it's members for their progressive advocacy. The Church feels they are not acting as true and good Catholics.
     In the article it is mentioned that the Catholic Church sees the fight against birth control as essential to preserving their religious freedoms. But, what about people like Dawnna Dukes' personal religious freedoms? Should she not have to right to both her spiritual beliefs and personal beliefs? It's certainly something to think about.