The Dallas Cowboys, in an attempt to penetrate the $4 billion collegiate apparel market, are aggressively pursuing monopoly licensing deals with our universities, under the brand name “Silver Star Merchandising.” Over the last decade, the Cowboys have racked up a reputation as a manufacturer with a record of serial labor rights abuse, from threatening to physically assault workers in Bangladesh to firing union leaders in El Salvador.
So far, the Cowboys have already signed a monopoly deal with the University of Southern California to be the exclusive manufacturer (with the exception of NIKE) of all USC-logo apparel. Now, they are courting Ohio State University’s more than $9 million licensing program, demonstrating blatant disregard for Ohio State’s labor rights code of conduct as well as local Ohio businesses. Furthermore, students learned through public documents that OSU has been engaging in an unfair, backdoor process to favor handing over a pending monopoly deal to the Cowboys.
OSU students are demanding that OSU “Buck the Cowboys!” and immediately re-start the contract bidding process, integrating OSU USAS members into the decision-making committee.
Victory! Ohio State University Denies Monopoly Apparel Deal to Dallas CowboysToday, student activists at Ohio State University are celebrating a major victory after the university denied a single-source apparel contract…
Tell the Ohio State Board of Trustees to Rein In Gordon GeeGordon Gee, the president of Ohio State University, has spent more than $64,000 in public money on bow ties and bow tie-related paraphernalia.
Stop Gordon Gee's Shadowy Apparel Monopoly500 days. That’s how long students have been campaigning to stop Gordon Gee from ramming through a sleazy monopoly deal that will hand over control…
Take Action: Stop Reckless Privatization Deal at OSU!
Ohio State doesn’t need another bad deal. Today, Ohio State University could become the first public University in the nation to privatize campus parking – but it’s not too late to stop this dangerous, risky deal! Take action now, e-mail...
USAS grades university on transparency, accountability
Originally posted in The Lantern at the Ohio State University, April 19, 2012 By Kristen Mitchell The university was issued a grade card and it failed every subject. Members of the United Students Against Sweatshops marched from the Oval to President...