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XAVIER UNIVERSITY "NOT WITH OUR MONEY" CAMPAIGN
"In running this company we just focus on shareholder value and the rest of it just works out fine."
-Doc Crantz, co-founder of CCA
To the Office of the President
Thursday, May 3, 2001
9:30 AM
Fr. Michael Graham,
As we are sure you have noticed or heard, the members of the "Not
With Our Money!" campaign have constructed a cage on the academic mall
and have occupied it day and night for 44 hours and counting.
We think it important that our actions be accompanied by a clear
message so that our campaign will not be misconstrued.
We are still awaiting a written statement from you regarding your
position on this issue and Sodexho-Marriott's future standing on Xavier
University's campus. You have stated verbally your moral opposition to
private prisons and have affirmed that a corporation involved in such an
activity contrary to Catholic values has no business on our campus. The
ties between Sodexho-Marriott Services and the for-profit prison
industry have been clear for some time now. Recently, Sodexho
Alliance's bid to buy out the remaining shares of Sodexho-Marriott has
been accepted, meaning that if you choose not to terminate Sodexho's
contract this semester, during the 2001 Fall semester our university
will be providing money directly to a corporation which owns and
operates private prisons. The ties to unjust practices are becoming
more direct than ever before.
You stated previously that you did not think it possible to
terminate Sodexho's contract at this time and have a new food service
provider ready to take over operations in the fall. From our meeting
and conversations with Dr. Ron Slepitza, we have discovered that this
switch is indeed possible. Although such a decision at this time may
not be preferable from a business point of view, we emphasize that this
is a moral decision as well. Considering the ethical obligations
involved in this issue, we feel that Catholic values and social
responsibility should take precedence over surmountable business
concerns.
Over this past semester, we have been in the process of educating
and informing the university community about these issues. We have
collected numerous student, faculty, staff, and community signatures on
petitions demanding the termination of Sodexho's contract. We have held
open forums, teach-ins, and several cultural events such as Tuesday
night's open mic which over 60 students attended. As time has passed,
more students and faculty have come out to show their support. More
students have slept out on the academic mall with us every night. We
will continue to build support and retain a constant presence on the
academic mall until your written statement has been presented and these
issues have been resolved.
Knowing your Jesuit background and commitment to social justice, we
feel confident that you will make the right decision and terminate
Sodexho's contract this semester.
The Students of the Not With Our Money Campaign.
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