Thirteen Penn State student activists walked into Penn State President Graham Spanier' s office yesterday morning, seeking to present Spanier with a written demand that the university adopt more stringent anti-sweatshop policies.

However, Spanier was out of town, his administrative assistant told them.

This event marks the second time this week students have protested the university's involvement with apparel companies that students say use sweatshop labor to produce collegiate apparel. On Monday, a group of about 20 students, some nude, marched around campus in protest. Most of the students who went to Spanier's office yesterday were present for Monday's protest as well.

Yesterday's efforts, however, were a little subtler.

The group of students, made up of members of United Students Against Sweatshops (USAS) and Student Labor Action Project, along with other concerned students, brought cookies and coffee into Spanier's office to show their efforts were not meant to be confrontational.

The students met no resistance when entering the office and were greeted by Spanier's administrative assistant, Carolyn Dolbin, who broke the news that Spanier was out of town and couldn't meet with them.

"When he returns, I will call it to his attention," Dolbin told the still-optimistic students, who left a copy of their demands at the office.

Theresa Haas (senior-biology) said she and other members of USAS have been dropping off news articles related to sweatshop practices at Spanier's office each day for the last few weeks and requesting meetings with him.

"Every request that we've made to meet with the president, he's refused," Haas said. "He said that he was too busy."

The statement the students left in Spanier's office calls for Penn State to adopt the Designated Supplier Program. According to the statement, the program would mandate that clothing bearing the university's logo "be produced in designated supplier factories where workers are able to enforce their rights through union representation and are paid a living wage."

"We just want to make our demands very clear and explicit to the administration," Ben Brewer (junior-philosophy) said as he carried a tray of coffee cups, intended for administrators, toward Old Main. "The [Designated Supplier Program] is an integral part of ensuring workers' rights."

Despite not being able to meet with Spanier, Haas maintained a positive attitude about yesterday's efforts.

"We went in very calmly and quietly, and they seemed very receptive to our presence," she said.

Penn State spokesman Tysen Kendig said the university has been looking at the Designated Supplier Program "for some time" and likes the concept of it.

"At the same time, we need to look at it from a practical standpoint to see if it's something that's enforceable," he said. "To imply that the stroke of a pen will alleviate the pain and suffering of thousands of people is grossly overstating its impact."

Haas said two schools in the Big Ten -- Indiana University and the University of Wisconsin -- have adopted the Designated Supplier Program.

Currently, Penn State adheres to the Fair Labor Association (FLA) code of conduct. The statement given to Spanier's office yesterday asserts that, even though Penn State has operated under the code for more than five years, "not enough has changed in factories producing our collegiate apparel."

"It's simply not an effective way to improve factory conditions, which is why we're pushing for the [new] program," Haas said.