OSU Students Demand Environmental Justice; Stage Sit-In at President Gordon Gee's Office

Today President Gordon Gee of The Ohio State University is cowering in his office, denying a meeting with representatives of student group Free the Planet! OSU and fellow supporters of The Grassy Narrows First Nation. Protesters serenaded the building with a drum circle, chants, banners, and signs. Chants included: “Gordon Gee, yes you could, stop buying old-growth wood!” and “Tell me what solidarity looks like! This is what solidarity looks like!”

About two hours ago, five students at Ohio State began a sit-in to demand ethical standards for the purchase of wood and paper. Members of Free the Planet!, a student group on campus, vow to stay until President Gordon Gee signs an agreement to stop the University from buying wood products obtained from Indigenous conflict areas and to include more recycled content in paper and lumber used on campus.

We’re in contact with the five inside (and don’t they look chipper?). We’re also in touch with a group of more than two dozen of their supporters rallying outside the President’s office. Police are reportedly on the scene, but have not indicated any intent to arrest at this point.

Free The Planet! is scheduled to meet with University administration on Thursday to finalize OSU’s forest resources policy, the students inside Gee’s office are demanding that Gee sign a memorandum of understanding that will ensure that OSU commit to a strong policy on Thursday which would include OSU refusing to purchase copy paper that is sourced from Grassy Narrows - at OSU that means OfficeMax brand paper.

Support the students by signing on to their petition. Free The Planet! is also asking supporters to call the President’s office to encourage him to sign the agreement:

* President Gordon E. Gee, The Ohio State University - (614) 292.2424

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Free the Planet! Demo for Sustainable Forest Products Policy24.32 KB
Sit-In at President Gee's Office17.37 KB
2008
02/12
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