Superheroes Unite with SFU President for a Fair Trade Campus

On March 9th 2011, Students dressed as superheroes paraded across campus to speak with SFU President Andrew Petter about making the university a Fair Trade campus. They call themselves the “Justice League” where each spandex-clad hero represented a different campus group.
 
“The idea of a Fair Trade Campus is certainly not new by any means”, says Natalie Gan, co-chair of the SFU Chapter of Fair Trade Vancouver. In 2003, a group called NoSWEAT SFU first challenged the University’s purchasing choices, prompting the creation of an Ethical Procurement Policy. And, over the years there have been numerous failed attempts to secure SFU’s commitment to the policy’s guidelines.
 
 “It would ensure that students are conscious of where products come from and are given the choice,” Gan says. “More importantly, it would be the school’s way of living up to their mandate of ‘thinking of the world’”.  
 
Petter at the time was publicly speaking with students as part of his “EnVision SFU”, a strategic planning campaign that encourages students to voice what changes they would like to see on campus.
 
The “Justice League” arrived in formation and through a spokesperson, drew the president’s attention to a growing coalition of students, faculty and clubs that are demanding greater commitment on the university’s part to ethical procurement.
 
UBC became the first Fair Trade University in Canada this past January where all food service providers—except for private franchises—offer only Fair Trade Coffee and tea options. SFU students are eager to follow suit and a bit sore that they weren’t there first. “There is widespread support among the student body,” Gan argues, “What we need now is simply the support of the President.” The superheroes presented Petter with a cape of his own, which he fashionably sported for the rest of the event.
 
Fair Trade Vancouver was founded by two SFU alumni and was pivotal in Vancouver’s successful campaign in becoming Canada’s first major Fair Trade city in May 2010.
 
For more information or to arrange interviews please contact Natalie Gan at Fair Trade Vancouver SFU. Telephone: 778.316.6284 or email: fairsfusfu [dot] ca