Student groups across universities and college campuses in the USA and Europe are beginning to recognize the unethical actions of Coca Cola and passing resolutions to keep Coca Cola off their campuses.

With the University of Michigan’s $1.3 million contract with Coke is set to expire this June, the University located at Ann Arbor, in the USA, considered cessation of business with Coca-Cola Corporation because of the company’s violations of human rights and the environment.

Last year, the University established the Code of Conduct for University of Michigan Vendors, stating that “In aligning its purchasing policies with its core values and practices, the University seeks to recognize and promote basic human rights.” A significant section of the student body at the University believes that human right violations in South America and India contravene of the University’s Vendor Code of Conduct, and they have been increasingly pressurizing the University administration not to renew its contract with the Coca-Cola Company.

On February 9th, 2005, the Michigan Daily reported that “responding to alleged human rights violations by the Coca-Cola Corporation, Michigan Student Assembly representatives and campus activists proposed a resolution last night urging the University to sever its $1.3 million contract with the soft-drink manufacturer.” The resolution called for the University’s External Relations Committee and Justice Commission to demand that the company address these human rights violations as well as institute policies to prevent any further incidents.

On February 23rd, the Michigan Student Assembly voted to support the actions of the Coke-Campaign Coalition, but in a last minute twist, MSA President Jason Mironov proposed two revisions to the resolution; one, that the resolution be divided into two parts, and the second that, instead of demanding the University terminate its contract with Coca-Cola, the resolution state that the MSA will stand behind the actions of the Coke-Campaign Coalition. The revision that toned down the language of the resolution was reworded to give credence to the Dispute Review Board, which looks into allegedly unethical practices of University business partners.

The Coalition, combined of 11 student groups, said it was more disappointed with the second revision because it did not lead to the stronger resolution terminating Coca Cola’s contract with the University. However, the vote was still viewed as a major step forward by the resolution and has resulted in increased pressure on the company.

The Michigan Daily reports that “The Dispute Review Board will make a recommendation to the University's executive vice president and to the chief financial officer. University spokeswoman Julie Peterson said the resolution would play a significant part in the overall decision to renew Coke's contract in June.”

In New York University, a dedicated group of students and student bodies
have been working for the past year to use their influence as NYU
students to hold the Coca-Cola Company accountable to the allegations
that have been brought forward by its Colombian workers. Last December, they passed a resolution with the University Committee on Student Life, which represents the student body of every school within NYU, to stop the sale and distribution of Coca-Cola products on campus until the
Coca-Cola Company cooperates with an independent investigation.

However, on February 7th, 2005, a proposal that would ban Coca-Cola products from campus because of the company's alleged labor violations was voted down 36-14 at Thursday's University Senate meeting. The senate opted instead to write a letter to the company, asking it to participate in a Worker Rights Consortium forum with universities, a disappointing decision for students who spearheaded the campaign.

Campaign director Ray Rogers said he questioned NYU's stake in the Coca-Cola Company, citing that the Chairman of the Board of Directors at Coca-Cola, Barry Diller, also sits on NYU's Board of Trustees.

There are today over 50 Colleges and Universities where student groups are working to pass resolutions to get Coca Cola off their campuses. However, given Coca Cola’s influence in these universities, it will be a difficult process. As the student paper at Emory points out “If Emory removed every campus building directly affiliated with the Coca-Cola Company, there would be no gym, no health science center, no business or nursing schools and only half of a student center. Both of the main libraries would be gone, as would about a third of the University’s $4.1 billion endowment. Emory without Coke seems unimaginable.”
The student groups, however, seem enthusiastic and driven to hold Coca Cola in the USA to its unethical policies in USA and elsewhere.

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