The Student Senate passed a resolution restricting the university’s coffee purchases to Fair Trade certified and organic brands.

The resolution was presented by the Fair Trade Coalition and passed unanimously at the last meeting of the Spring 2003 semester.

Student Senate Speaker Mike Walsh, Student Senate Speaker said the Student Senate was mostly in favor of the resolution. The first time it was presented by the Fair Trade Coalition, the senate had unanswered questions for the coalition, so it was tabled. The coalition returned the next week with additional information to answer the senate’s questions.

“They presented a pretty strong case and many students wanted it, so it was passed,” Walsh said. “Whatever we could do to support those small coffee farmers is great. They are just trying to make a buck.”

Bill Davidson, student executive vice president, was Student Senate Speaker at the time the resolution was passed.

Davidson and Amanda Sartore, the chair of academic affairs at the time, decided to advise the coalition and help out in any way possible.

Davidson said after the resolution was passed, he and Sartore, met with the coalition and its advisor, campus minister of the Newman Catholic Center Roy Lanham, and Mark Hudson, director of housing and dining. The meeting was conducted in hopes to bring more Fair Trade products to the university.

Davidson said some words from the original resolution needed to be revised. Shirley Stewart, vice president of student affairs, helped with word clarifications.

A bill or resolution can be written or proposed by any student, but it needs to be submitted to the senate by a student senator. Sartore presented the reworked resolution to the senate.

“I think it was a testament to the determination of the Fair Trade Coalition,” Davidson said. “Those students should get all the credit with this accomplishment.”

“I think we should definitely have it (Fair Trade coffee),” Sartore said. “From the resolution itself, it just seems better for everyone involved.

“By the university using fair trade, the farmers of the coffee are getting the reimbursement needed. Because without fair trade, they get a very bare minimum revenue.

“By using it, the university is not only showing the students, but the Charleston community and other universities Eastern’s support for fair trade economic practices.”

Campus editor Jennifer Chiariello can be reached at [email protected].