Eight students climbed the stairs of Old Main last week to meet with Penn State President Graham Spanier.

Spanier couldn't talk, but the activists did get to meet with Daniel Sieminski, assistant vice president of finance and business, to discuss a U.S. Senate bill that could prevent U.S. companies from profiting from sweatshop labor.

The group consisted of members of United Students Against Sweatshops (USAS), the Student Labor Action Project (SLAP) and other concerned students who want Spanier to implement the Designated Supplier Program (DSP), a plan for universities designed to ensure that its licensed apparel is not being produced in sweatshops.

Some may laugh at the thought of a group marching up to Old Main to meet with the administration.

Did they really think Spanier would just hop out of his office and say hi?

But really, students should take a hint from their peers and join in. That's not to immediately say they should support this group. But there are plenty of other reasons to talk to administrators and legislators.

There were only eight student activists who went to Old Main Thursday to explain their views, yet they signify a sense of power.

It is the power to stand up to the administration about what they think is wrong.

If our student government had as much gumption as these student activists, then perhaps a large group of students from University Park might actually turn out for Rally in the Rotunda.

We might actually make headway in lobbying our legislators and persuading them that investing in Penn State is an investment in the commonwealth.

We saw what happened when voters protested the self-imposed pay raise the state legislature gave itself two summers ago.

The raise was repealed and more than 20 lawmakers lost their jobs.

The voters said no.

That is the power of the people, and that is the power that these activists are striving for in their efforts on one single issue.

Penn State students, take note.

Climb the stairs of Old Main. Take the trip to Harrisburg. Tell your administrators and lawmakers exactly what you think and what you want.

Eight students are leading the way.