The Penn State chapter of United Students Against Sweatshops handed out fliers outside the Allen Street Gates yesterday, informing passers-by of sweatshop conditions and how Penn State can stop human rights abuses.

Theresa Haas, president of United Students Against Sweatshops (USAS), said the group, which works to see that the administration will adhere to a more ethical sweatshop code of conduct, had no ties to the dropping of a white banner over the main entrance of Sackett Building with the message, "Make Penn State Apparel Sweatshop Free."

"It's not an official club activity, but it's obviously a group of students who have an overlapping interest," Haas said.

The banner, which was taken down sometime between 4:45 and 5:30 p.m., violated Penn State Policy AD51 regarding "Use of Outdoor Areas for Expressive Activities," which states "signs, placards, posters, photographs and the like shall not be affixed in any manner to university grounds and property."

Penn State spokesmen Bill Mahon and Tysen Kendig were out of their offices yesterday and could not be reached for comment by press time.

The initiative of USAS comes after the administration heeded the groups' proposal last month to join the Worker Rights Consortium (WRC), an organization that monitors factories making collegiate apparel and tries to ensure workers are treated according to an established code of conduct.

However, the members of USAS said they are not satisfied with the university's recent affiliation with the WRC. The issue is incredibly important, Haas said, because Penn State is the 14th largest producer of licensed university apparel in the country.

"The affiliation with the WRC was a pretty empty commitment," Haas said, citing the fact that the university has refused to adopt the WRC's code of conduct.

Haas said USAS is urging the university to sign on to the Designated Suppliers Program, through which the WRC can ensure the school would source Penn State apparel through only so-called "good" factories.

These "good" factories are characterized by having independent unions, paying living wages and meeting all standards in the WRC code of conduct, she said.

"The administration's been dragging their feet on the issue since day one," said Zach Scheid, co-founder of the Student-Labor Action Project, an organization that has worked with the USAS in the past.

"All it would take is a stroke of the pen on their part to alleviate the pain and suffering of thousands of people," he said.

Melanie Shepherd (graduate-philosophy), who was handing out fliers, said the group was trying to involve more students on an issue that concerns all of the campus.

"I don't see this as an antagonistic thing," she said. "There's always work to be done. It's our job to keep up that pressure."

The large white banner received plenty of raised eyebrows among students in the vicinity, as its handwritten message was suspended from the window above the entrance of the Sackett Building.

The sign caught the eye of Katie Lees (senior-marketing).

"I agree with it," she said. "If you're going to be a place of higher learning and your professors are teaching against stuff like that, you shouldn't be using sweatshops."

Adrienne Giannone (junior-international politics) was also intrigued by the display.

"It made me wonder what group was responsible," she said. "I didn't realize a movement like this existed."

Birjoo Vaishnav (graduate-physics) had a mixed reaction to the issue.

"I'm from India, so I have two opinions about [sweatshops]," said. "For some people, some employment is better than no employment. Sure it's bad, but at the same time, it pays for their food."