In October, the Chronicle of Higher Education published a column by Penn State President Graham Spanier titled "Is Campus Activism Dead -- or Just Misguided?"

With their most recent actions, members of the United Students Against Sweatshops (USAS) are continuing to prove to Spanier that their commitment to their cause is alive and well.

Last Friday, USAS members began a study-in outside the president's office in Old Main. With books and notes in hands, the students did some studying for finals week. Their true purpose, though, was to bring attention to the plight of sweatshop workers.

In doing so, they showed maturity that should illustrate to Spanier that their activism isn't misguided. Whether he chooses to listen, though, is an entirely different issue.

There's no denying that USAS is clearly devoted to its goal of fighting against sweatshop labor. The group even seems to be responding to criticisms leveled against it and taking a slightly different approach to their tactics.

In the past, USAS has held wiffle ball games in Old Main, dumped Valentine's cards on Spanier's desk and even held a sit-in, which resulted in several of its members being arrested. Those actions demonstrated a commitment to their cause, but felt a little like look-at-me ploys to get the campus' attention.

This time, USAS kept its target very specific: Spanier. There were no crazy antics, no bells and whistles, just a simple, peaceful protest outside the president's office.

It's not that the other ideas were bad ones, since they certainly drew attention to the issue. But after Spanier's column about supposedly "misguided" activism, USAS is answering the call and trying to prove to Spanier that the group knows its stuff.

USAS has even slightly narrowed its focus during the most recent protest. Before, getting Penn State to sign onto the Designated Suppliers Program (DSP) was the main focus of most protests. While that still remains on USAS's radar, the group has spent the past week trying to get the university to suspend its contract with Russell Athletics.

By pursuing a slightly smaller goal, USAS improves its chances of making leeway on the issue. Spanier has remained adamantly against signing the DSP, but suspending the university's contract with Russell would be a great step and support the group's overall plan.

It still seems unlikely that Spanier will sit down with the group, something the group says he has only done once in the last three years, but by responding to the president's criticisms, USAS members are making it harder for Spanier to avoid them.