The debate over Coca-Cola products on campus is winding down as Loyola's upper management prepares its final decision on a future beverage supplier. The Beverage Committee met Nov. 19 to discuss the issue and made its recommendation to the President's Cabinet.
"[The cabinet] was quite impressed with the thorough job done by the committee in preparing its recommendation," the Rev. Michael J. Garanzini, S.J., said.
Among criteria considered for the recommendation was an online consumer preference poll administered by Sam Perry, purchasing manager at Loyola. Through GroupWise, the Purchasing Department invited all registered students, faculty and staff to choose their preferred beverage supplier out of three choices, or no preference if they did not have one. The response rate was 47 percent of a total of 7,735 individual poll participants. Statistics provided by the committee concluded a 39.63 percent preference for Coca-Cola products, followed by 32.85 percent for Pepsi products and 9.7 percent for Cadbury Schweppes products. About 18 percent had no particular preference.
"It's not necessarily my belief that the poll was intended to draw predestined results. However, no effort was made to educate students about the products," said Carolyn Paul, member of Loyola Students Against Sweat Shops, "When you say Cadbury Schweppes, most people probably think of chocolate eggs, not Dr Pepper, 7UP, A&W Root Beer and RC Cola."
"The people on the committee dedicated a lot of their time, and they became educated on the issue if they were not already," said Tim McGuriman, associate vice president for business services at Loyola.
In deriving a recommendation in regards to best beverage supplier, no weight was given to specific statistics or criteria.
"All I asked was that [committee members] not be driven strictly by finances," McGuriman said. "Finances was not the most important thing. Service, product differentiation and company communication were taken into consideration."
Members of LSAS addressed Garanzini in his office and presented him with further information regarding Coca-Cola in South America. After a recent review of the beverage committee's recommendation report, it was suggested Loyola upper management seek advice from a Jesuit Center in Colombia which specializes in human rights issues.
"The Jesuit Center is investigating and promises to get back to us within a week," Garanzini said.
In early November, Coke representatives addressed allegations in a forum held on campus by USGA. LSAS held a rally supporting their cause where Luis Cardona, former SINALTRAINAL union leader and former Coca-Cola employee spoke about his story of being kidnapped by paramilitary forces.
"Luis Cardona's speech was one that really moved me. … This is the kind of voice students should listen to," SASK member Micah Uetricht said. "Students should not make up their opinions on this issue listening to people being paid by Coke telling them that the company hasn't done anything wrong but should listen to real people whose lives have been devastated by Coca-Cola's action and inaction in Colombia, India and elsewhere."
Members of LSAS continue to believe that Loyola representatives did not give equal weight to opposing sides of the issue.
"The fact that a few members of the vending committee were blatantly and fairly publically pro-Coke should outrage anyone concerned with real student input on this issue," Uetricht said.
The beverage committee has managed the discussion on the Coca-Cola issue for the past couple weeks. Until upper management makes a final decision, the beverage committee's recommendation will remain private.
The chosen supplier will hold a five-year contract with the university thereafter.
"The committee feels its work here is done. Do you want to get water out of a tap?" said McGuriman, emphasizing the importance of having a decision made soon, as Loyola's current contract with Coca-Cola is set to expire in July. "We have to have a provider doing business with us," he said.
Awaiting a reply from Jesuits in Colombia, the President's Cabinet is in the process of reviewing the recommendation of the Beverage Selection Committee and will discuss findings and the recommendation at its next meeting scheduled for Dec. 4.
An anticipated announcement will be made regarding the university's decision on the matter at that meeting.
"This is an issue of giving justice a chance to prevail within large multinational companies," Paul said. "It's unique in that we have a chance to set a precedent for contracting at the school and involving human rights issues more closely with our spending."
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