The Sweat-Free Stanford Campaign revamped its movement yesterday at noon with a protest in White Plaza. The demonstration, which was organized by the Stanford Asian American Activism Committee (SAAAC), coincided with the National Sweat-Free Day of Action.

Twenty-eight colleges and 15 high schools rallied to show solidarity for the issue, according to event organizer Nicole Pepperl ‘09.

“We are calling on Stanford to be socially responsible,” she said at the rally. “Our campus should reflect our morals as a higher institution. As students, we have the power to lead the University in a morally responsible direction.”

The Sweat-Free Stanford Campaign aims to encourage Stanford to permanently join the Worker Rights Consortium (WRC) and Designated Suppliers Program (DSP). Through independent monitoring and a factory certification process, the WRC and DSP ensure that factory conditions do not violate human rights.

Pepperl told The Daily that 175 American universities have joined the WRC and 36 have joined the DSP. She said that Stanford is currently affiliated with the WRC monitoring organization.

“We see our campaign’s mission as half-completed.” Pepperl said. “Stanford has joined the WRC, at least temporarily. With monitoring, we will know where the problems are and have a better sense of what we can do to fix them.”

Stanford, however, has only joined the WRC for one year and will decide to renew its membership on an annual basis.

“One of our biggest concerns with Stanford joining on a yearly basis is that one year will not be enough time for monitoring of the factories to occur,” Pepperl said. “The campaign is staying active to ensure that Stanford does not leave the WRC after one year.”

“The administration has showed interest in collaborating,” said Pahua Cha, ‘10, a member of SAAAC. “I think it’s important that students don’t seem to understand that we still need a lot of help in continuing and actually implementing the new policies.”

Members from other student organizations also protested at the rally.

“Apathy is not a substitute for informed disagreement,” said Bernard Fraga ‘08, co-chair of Movimiento Estudiantil Chicano de Aztlan (MEChA). “This is one of the biggest issues our campus faces.”

“I personally think it’s embarrassing that students haven’t [been] informed,” he added. “It’s a real shame that most students prefer to be apathetic rather than learn more about the issue.”

“Stanford makes a huge profit off apparel and there is no reason for them not to pay their workers reasonable wages,” added Daniel Weissman, a third-year physics graduate student and member of the Stanford Labor Action Coalition (SLAC).

Though only a few dozen students attended the rally, Zev Kvitky, Head of the United Stanford Workers, said he had confidence in the movement.

“It is important that students are trying to be the conscience at Stanford,” he said. “If Stanford is going to be a source of good for the world then social conscience should start on campus.”

Last night, in conjunction with the rally, SAAAC screened the documentary “Made in L.A.” and held a discussion with Economics Profs. Arindrajit Dube and Ethan Kaplan from UC-Berkeley, focusing on the economics of sweatshops.

The group also discussed how an international coalition could ensure a unified wage.

“There are strong hesitations about international labor standards from economists,” Dube said. “The coordination of international labor unions is just as problematic as countrywide labor union coalitions.

“It is very difficult to achieve and one needs to think about which members of a country would take the steps needed,” he added. “For instance, NGOs could be one of the driving forces.”

“The focus of our campaign is to give people a voice,” added SAAAC member Theresa Zhen ‘09, who moderated the discussion. “Especially in third world countries, where our clothing is being made, workers may not have the opportunity or ability to raise their own voices. There is no apparatus in place to protect workers’ rights.”