Sweatshop Protesters Threatened with Suspension

by: Matt Singer

Mon Apr 28, 2008 at 13:32:04 PM MST

Dean of Students Charles Couture sent a letter to the protesters recently outlining concerns and stating that probation was a possible sanction. A second letter sent a day later outlined the possibility of suspension.

I'm now hearing rumors of threatened penalties against students who did not actually directly participate in the sit-in, but I haven't been able to confirm that with anyone yet.

Want to know more about why students are facing these penalties? Check out United Students Against Sweatshops.

Update -- To all the folks misreading this post: please stop inserting normative judgments where none appear. I posted these letters so folks could get an update on what is happening here. I linked USAS to give context to the issue. I've re-read this post several times and nowhere do I weigh in on whether the penalties should be given, what the penalties should be, or anything else.

In short, learn to read, both my friends and adversaries.

Civil Disobedience, the 60s, and Winning

by: Matt Singer

Thu Apr 24, 2008 at 08:58:33 AM MST

Sweatshops are bad, they say, but even worse are dirty fucking hippies who annoy me.

This principle, of course, arises from the complex ethical system known as the DFAMH System -- "Don't Fucking Annoy Me, Hippie."

Look, I'm not usually an advocate of civil disobedience -- and I probably wouldn't have counseled it here. But I have to be honest, my opposition is tactical, not moral.

And to the friends of mine who got arrested -- I thought someone needed to write publicly that y'all are worthy of respect.

There are tactical problems with civil disobedience. Our society dislikes it. It is easy for the action to attract more attention than the cause. And the people most willing to be arrested or hurt are not always the most sympathetic figures for the public.

Anyways -- $.02 on a situation going on here in Missoula.