Iowa State might adopt a policy that would ensure ISU merchandise is not made in sweatshops.

The Government of Student Body unanimously passed a bill recently endorsing the Worker’s Rights Consortium, but the university has yet to adopt it.

Currently Iowa State has no way of knowing if its merchandise is made in sweatshops, but if Iowa State does work with the consortium, it would be easier to ensure ISU apparel is made ethically than trying to monitor companies without the consortium.

“It is an organization that could make sure Iowa State and its logo are not associated with sweatshops,” said Jonathan Mullin, GSB graduate college senator and graduate student in chemistry.

“This can be complicated, so having an international organization do it for us takes the pressure off ISU to make sure that Cy isn’t in a sweatshop.”

The issue of sweatshops has been around for a few years, and Mullin said Iowa State should join it to accomplish one of its missions.

“Part of ISU’s mission is ‘students should be world citizens and to apply knowledge to improve lives worldwide,'” Mullin said.

“This is a very cheap way for ISU to put some of its profits into fulfilling its mission.”

The consortium would ask Iowa State to provide a code of conduct for producers to follow and ask for 1 percent of profits, which would be about $5,000 a year.

GSB said the $5,000 would come out of profits Iowa State makes from apparel sales. Warren Madden, vice president for business and finance, said that Iowa State would have to cut funding to some programs and activities if it adopts the bill.

“Joining it is a financial cost; we will have to make budget reductions,” Madden said.

He said the profit from selling merchandise goes to various programs and activities, such as the athletic department.

Athletic Director Jamie Pollard said he thinks it will have a marginal effect on the department.

“I don’t anticipate sales and licensing of merchandise will be significantly affected,” Pollard said.

Right now, Madden feels GSB needs more information and to meet with the university.

Mullin said more than 148 universities are working with the consortium to ensure their merchandise isn’t made in sweatshops.