The Progressive Student Union, a student organization at Washington State University, held a rally Jan. 20 to try and prevent WSU from renewing a contract with Coca-Cola.
 
PSU member Michael Schwartz said Coke, whose contract with WSU ends this year, is responsible for the murders of union leaders in Colombia and has severely drained water tables in places like India and Atlanta.
 
Coke has been the subject of protests at a number of universities, 52 of which have chosen to end their contracts with the company. Oberlin College, Smith College, and the University of Illinois have all ended their contracts with Coke in recent years for ethical reasons.
 
During the Washington State University rally, PSU members collected signatures on a petition to the University against Coke, and passed out Jones Soda, Pepsi and root beer, arguing that someone else deserves the school’s business.
 
Schwartz said the WSU administration has opened up bidding to other soda companies. Pepsi and Jones Soda are expected to apply. 

One protester stressed that the bidding process should be as competitive as possible.
 
"We don't think all Coke employees or people who drink Coke are bad, but someone else deserves the contract at WSU," said PSU member Chelsea Tremblay.

The students will get their answer in early March, when WSU will choose a vendor.


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