Albany Student Press: UAlbany to Vote on New Beverage Contract

UAlbany to vote on new beverage contract
Heather Senison
Issue date: 5/5/08
Section: News

The University at Albany Auxiliary Services will be announcing their decision this week on which company to sign the next beverage contract with. The UAS board voted on the decision in an executive session in their final meeting last Friday in the Standish Room of the Science Library. The board has 15 members; six are UAlbany students, the rest faculty and staff.

UAlbany previously held a10-year exclusive contract with the Coca-Cola Corporation which expired December 2007. The board allowed for public comment before the meeting and members of organizations, such as Students for Workers' Rights and Campus Greens, spoke out against a renewal of the Coke contract. The organizations that have been working against Coca Cola are concerned with alleged human rights abuses involving Coke privatizing water sources, as well as using violent intimidation tactics against union workers in countries such as Columbia and India.

Jackie Hayes of Students for Workers' Rights urged the UAS board to "formulate policy that is truly cutting edge and unique to UAlbany, and which also places human rights at the forefront of institutional decisions." "In the same vein I would ask you not to renew the contract with Coca Cola. They have proven to be an irresponsible bidder by not addressing the concerns of the over 35 colleges and universities who have already severed major contracts with Coke," Hayes said.

"I want to reassure everyone that the money issue is not the only issue. There are a number of criteria being applied as we review the options ... not the least of which is a commitment to social justice," John Murphy, UAS board member and associate vice president for student affairs said in response to concerns raised about Coca Cola offering more money to UAlbany than other bidders.