A University Police Services officer is out to stop the various groups that visit Penn State hoping to sell students everything from T-shirts to perfume.

"These sweatshop organizations seem to pick up speed in the spring," University police supervisor Clifford Lutz said, adding that one group of T-shirt salesmen has already worked University dorms this semester.

Many students do not realize door-to-door sales are illegal in the dorms under any circumstances.

"I vaguely remember at the beginning of the year that our (resident assistant) asked us if we minded them coming around," said Janet Caridad (freshman-division of undergraduate studies).

Caridad is one of many students who were under the impression that it is legal to solicit on floors that have voted on an "open canvassing" policy.

Judy Albin, assistant director of Residence Life, said groups may canvass if they have permission from her office, but added that canvassing does not include selling items.

"Canvassing is basically asking people's opinions and things like that," Albin said.

There is even confusion at the Association of Residence Hall Students office.

Kathy Corbett (freshman-division of undergraduate studies), who works at the ARHS office, said she thought open canvassing included solicitation.

Solicitors create other difficulties as well. The fact that they are often in the dorms unescorted is a definite problem, Albin said.

Lutz said solicitors often go into rooms and steal things. There were seven reported cases of theft by traveling solicitors last year, he said.

"Don't let them get a foot in the door -- shut it and call 911," Lutz said. "We want to be there as quickly as possible to catch these people."

University police officer Donald Reed said first-time offenders usually get a warning. The second time, solicitors are generally charged with criminal trespass and may be fined as much as $300, Reed said.

The soliciting groups that come to the University take advantage of their employees, he said.

"They promise them cash and excitement and tell them they get to go exciting places -- like Penn State," Lutz said, adding that the companies usually take workers far away from their homes so it is difficult for them to quit.

"When they get here they tell them they have to work 16-hour days, and if they don't get so much money or sell so many magazines, they will have no lunch money," Lutz said. "These kids are basically indentured servants. It's really very sad."

Many of the products the people sell are "total scams," he added.

A group of people last year pretended to be magazine salesmen, Lutz said.

"The receipts even looked fake -- you could go make a better one if you sat down at your computer yourself," he said.