During her powerful Sunday night performance at Carolina Performing Arts, artist Rhiannon Giddens gave a fascinating introduction to a song that discusses the plight of exploited workers. She expressed that we need to remember: “Cheap clothes aren’t cheap. Someone is paying for them.”
Though this message would be powerful at any point, this conversation is especially timely. Recently, President Obama signed legislation to close loopholes in a law that allowed the import of goods produced by slave labor.
Though challenging, the success of the student movements following the Savar Building collapse that persuaded Chancellor Folt to sign an accord on labor practices for UNC-licensed clothing shows student influence.
This editorial board also recognizes that thoughtful choices in our own consumption holds impact — locally and globally. We encourage consumers to take advantage of published guides explaining the ethics of supply chains for popular product and to purchase from local businesses and thoughtful, sustainable suppliers.
We celebrate that locally owned institutions, like Mediterranean Deli, The Daily Grind, and UNC Student Stores, exist on our campus. We also appreciate the ethical goods sold on campus, like supply-chain transparent coffee, and Student Stores’ living wage practices.
This board invites students to be thoughtful consumers, both on and off campus. Further, we hope that students continue to thoughtfully protect ethical institutions that have space on campus.
