March 6, 2012

Ninety-eight percent of clothes in the United States have been imported from overseas, mainly from China, [according to ABC News](http://abcnews.go.com/Business/MadeInAmerica/made-america-clothes-clothing-made-usa/story?id=13108258#.T1P4CHJWpnE).

This statistic didn’t settle well with Angie Pagan, Mizzou Students Against Sweatshops chapter founder and president.

MUSAS is affiliated with the United Students Against Sweatshops, a national organization with chapters at more than 250 universities [according to its Facebook page](https://www.facebook.com/pages/United-Students-Against-Sweatshops/103121133060864).

The MU chapter works exclusively with Alta Gracia clothing company. Its objective is to maintain a factory in which workers are treated and paid fairly while providing quality clothing for college campuses. The Worker Rights Consortium, an independent watchdog organization, has monitored the factory’s proceedings since 1997, according to the USAS Facebook page.

Pagan first became involved with Alta Gracia after she was invited on a Trade Justice Delegation with 30 other students from around the country to witness what the factory was like. She stayed in a homestay with one of the workers and saw how the worker’s life changed after moving from a sweatshop to Alta Gracia.

“(It was) amazing to see workers getting justice, getting paid a living wage, and provide food, clean water, education and resources for their families with dignity,” Pagan said in the email. “It compelled me to do everything I can to organize students here at MU, because MU has the opportunity to make a tremendous difference in the lives of many.”

All workers at Alta Gracia previously worked in sweatshops, Pagan said.

Pagan started the MU chapter in January, and since then the organization has grown to 10 members.

MUSAS is working to get the MU Bookstore to sell Alta Gracia products.

“We are asking for $300,000 in apparel, which would limit the other brands (Nike, Adidas, Champion, Under Armour) that are known as running sweatshops,” treasurer Patrick Dolan said in an email. “This amount is the amount that Alta Gracia asks for in orders so as to optimize production and shipping costs.”

MUSAS held its first meeting combating sweatshops at the MU Bookstore two weeks ago. Members spoke with Director of Retail Operations Sherry Pollard.

“We ask for this amount because at over 400 other colleges across the nation, this average amount has been proven to successfully sell,” Pagan said. “It is ridiculous that our MU Bookstore buyers have relationships with brands that violate human rights in factories all over the world. As we gather more and more club endorsements, we see that they are ignoring what hundreds of students want. We want social justice for our garment workers so we can show our MU pride with dignity.”

The bookstore has scheduled a follow-up meeting with its decision for Thursday.

“As students we will not tolerate these corporate relationships controlling what is supposed to be a ‘free market,’” Pagan said. “As far as working with us, they claim they already are. Unfortunately, they have made this follow-up meeting after many large orders are placed, so they can claim they have spent too much of the budget to order Alta Gracia. We will see what they have to say on (March) 8th.”

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