Should there be any hesitation about Ohio State fully supporting the Global Sullivan Principles of Corporate Social Responsibility?
These principles are based on the earlier Sullivan Principles, developed by the Rev. Leon Sullivan in the late 1970s. These principles include: Equal pay for all employees doing equal or comparable work, no segregation in work facilities and increasing the number of blacks and non-whites in management and supervisory positions. Sullivan was inspired to create these guidelines for businesses after a trip to South Africa in 1975. He was no stranger to big business and its principles, having been the first black member on the board of directors at General Motors in 1971.
Ohio State signed these original principles.
Now Sullivan is asking OSU to support extending these principles to the multi-national companies with which the university does business.
These farther reaching principles were announced at the United Nations in November of 1999. They include:
• Support of economic, social and political justice by companies where they conduct their business
• Support of human rights and encourage equal opportunity at all levels of employment (including racial and gender diversity)
• Training of disadvantaged workers for technical, supervisory and management opportunities
• Assistance for promoting greater tolerance and understanding among peoples
• Improve the quality of life for communities, workers and children with dignity and equality
By signing, Ohio State would agree to use these principles as a basis for judging whether or not it would do business with a corporation. This would extend into areas like investments, merchandise manufacturing and even what you drink on campus; ala the exclusive contract of Coke.
It is true that it may cause OSU some problems and loss of revenue, especially in investment funds, but in the long run the university should be able to balance its portfolio and maintain the reputation it wishes to acquire.
Ohio State wishes to compare itself with other universities such as University of Texas, University of California, Notre Dame and Michigan State University. All of them are either in the middle , or near completion, of studies of their investment and business practices along the lines of the Sullivan Principles.
Next month, President “Brit” Kirwan will have a chance to put OSU in a leadership position during talks with other university leaders in New York. All he has to do is support the Global Sullivan Principles.
As a sign on Ted Turner’s desk read: “Either lead, follow or get out of the way.”
It is time for OSU to lead. On this issue, it is a no-brainer.
