The Georgetown University Student Association unanimously passed a resolution Tuesday night recommending that the University sell Fair Trade coffee at all coffee shops, cafeterias and catering services at Georgetown.
Currently Uncommon Grounds, Midnight Mug, the Starbucks in the Leavey Center, New South Cafeteria and Marriott catering services offer Fair Trade coffee when requested. Darnall cafeteria and More Uncommon Grounds do not offer it due to space constraints.
The Georgetown Students for Fair Trade and two GUSA sponsors, Luis Torres (CAS ‘05) and Octavio Gonzalez (CAS ‘06), presented the resolution. In their presentation, they connected the concept of Fair Trade Coffee with Georgetown’s Jesuit tradition.
“Fair Trade coffee makes sure that the workers are treated with dignity, respect and justice,” GSFT Secretary Emily Conger, said.
“By making Georgetown a 100 percent Fair Trade campus, we will hold Georgetown true to its own standards on justice,” Conger said.
According to GSFT President Stephanie Faith Green (SFS ‘05), it has been argued in the past that making the campus 100 percent Fair Trade would limit students’ choices.
Green explained that Fair Trade coffee comes in many different blends so the coffee providers on campus could continue to offer a variety of coffee.
Scott Cody, a representative from TransFair USA, a non-profit organization that certifies Fair Trade products in the United States, noted the importance of a university with Georgetown’s prestige becoming 100 percent Fair Trade.
There are approximately 160 universities throughout the country that offer Fair Trade coffee, but only a small number are 100 percent Fair Trade, Cody said.
In order to implement the proposed plan, Georgetown would have to negotiate with Maxwell House, the company that provides coffee to Georgetown. Maxwell House currently does not offer Fair Trade coffee, Green said.
