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an irranttscu irnghnrn University of San Francisco Vol. 99 Issue Twenty One FREEDOM AND FAIRNESS April 10, 2003 Hope for the Corporate Soul ANNA KASPER '''''slajf'Wriie'r''' In the aftermath of recent corporate scandals, is there a corporate soul left to save? The answer is "yes" according to four corporate executives who discussed the importance of integrity and values in Corporate America at a panel last week. The panel, which was led by Associate Professor of Theology and Religious Studies David Batstone, coincided with the release of his book "Saving the Corporate Soul." "There [are] enough Enron, WorldCom and Arthur Andersen stories out there and I really wanted to tell a story about companies that do it right," said Batstone, who spent the last year and a half investigating how companies go about doing business ethically. "There [are] a lot of stories about people who are pretty inspiring." All of the panelists--Gary Erickson, owner and CEO of ClifBar; Phyllis Jackson, Vice President of Charles Schwab; Danny Grossman, founder and CEO of Wild Planet Toys; and Michael Kieschnick, co-founder and President of Working Assets- agreed that a company must stay true to its values and be able to communicate them to their employees and customers. Transparency, a business-world concept, is essential to this goal. Transparency is, "...owning up to and being very upfront about what they're doing and why they're doing it," Batstone said. He said this is the way companies are going to be able to beat the bad rap that many have earned in recent years. Grossman founded Wild Planet Toys, a company that offers toys that "parents can endorse and kids think are cool." For instance, Wild Planet wanted to get away from marketing violent toys to boys and sexist toys to girls. "I walked in the door first and foremost to create a company based on values," Grossman said. "Your values, ifyou stay true to them, will get you somewhere." Grossman said a company must have, "...an articulated channel of dissent." Employees need to know who to tell if they see a problem within the company, and how the problem will be handled. Jackson, the Vice President of Schwab, said a way for a company to stay honest is to make sure that "...employees at every level [are] able to say 'That's not right.'" Grossman said "internal transparency," or a system that allows every member of a company to know what is happening and how the company is doing, is critical. Each month at Wild Planet a different employee is responsible for giving a financial update to the entire company. This allows the employees to see how the company is doing over time. Erickson, of ClifBar, said he wants transparency at every level in his company. "They get to see however it is," Erickson said of his employees. "They get to see me, hear me, feel me." Erickson laughed as he said this - such a level of closeness may be too much for his colleagues when he comes directly to work after a long bike ride. Kieschnick is co-founder of Working Assets, a long distance company that donates a portion of its revenue to progressive causes. His key to transparency is simple: "Only make a few promises that are quantitative. Stick to them and report on it." Jackson said promoting diversity was central to her role at Schwab. "If you create an environment where you can bring all of who you are - race, gender, sexual orientation - to work and have all employees do that, that creates diversity." Kieschnick replied, "I think there's been an increase [in diversity]." But he was also quick to point out that there is a big difference between a small company like his and a larger one hke Schwab. Jackson, who is an alumna of USF, said being at the University had given her "a sense of personal empowerment," which has helped her in the work force. As a graduate of the College of Professional Studies, she said the autobiographical essays she was required to write helped her "find my voice" and understand that sometimes one must "go along to get along." Batstone, whom USA Today recently called America's "foremost expert on ethics," said his book covers the environment, globalization, the individual worker and other issues in addition to corporate ethics. He is already working on a sequel. KIMIKO BARBOUR/FOGHORN The ASUSF Finance Committee held their annual budget hearings last weekend. The committee is finding it harder to meet the requests of all funded accounts with the current student activities fee. An initiative to vote for an increase in student fees will be placed on next weeks ASUSF ballots. Students Will Vote on Activities Fee Increase SARA STEELE 'SiaffWriie'r An initiative has been added to the ASUSF election ballot to increase the student activities fee by $20 per semester. A group of concerned students, headed by Joe Macias and Dominic Caruso, proposed this increase from $60 to $80 because they think events, clubs and organizations on campus could use more resources. The student activities fee funds several accounts, such as Superfund, College Players, Greek Council, FACES, the Foghorn and ASUSF Senate. Macias, a senior politics and sociology major, said these organizations need more funding than they are now receiving. Macias' proposal states, "So that every undergraduate student can benefit from larger programs through ASUSF clubs and organizations, funded accounts and individual members, I recommend that the Board of Trustees and the University administration increase the semester student activities fee from $60 to $80." Macias presented his proposal to the ASUSF Senate at its April 1 meeting. The Senate passed a resolution to add this initiative to the ballot. The student body will be able to vote on the fee raise during elections on April 14, 15 and 16. In order to pass the initiative, 20 percent of the 3,612 students at USF must vote. Out of that 20 percent, two-thirds must approve the raise for it to pass. If the initiative passes at the student elections, it will then be presented to the Board of Trustees, which will decide whether or not to implement it. Macias stressed the important role that funding can play for organizations on campus. "When everyone is given a budget, they have to work within the actual budget that they have, so if they want to do new programs they might not be able to because of a lack of funding," Macias said. "I'm a student leader and I know that on campus it is harder to program without the money. Students want to see larger events and we can't really do larger events without the actual funding. It's all about taking initiative, so we decided to do that this year." Vice President of Business Administration Tim Keane said the raise in the student activities fee would benefit the students. "As far as the Student Activity Fee, there is no drawback, as far as the Student Organizations of ASUSF go, to raising it," Keane said. "More money is more money, and all ofthe ASUSF funded accounts, as well as the un-funded accounts which are funded through club funding and Superfund, would benefit." The Board of Trustees raised the student activities fee from $50 to $60 in 1999, and Macias said it is time for another raise. Macias said although his proposal states an increase of $20, the Board ofTrustees could decide to only raise the fee by $5 or $10. Macias said this raise will benefit all students. "Do students want larger events?" Macias asked. "Then we need more money for clubs and more resources." Macias' proposal states, "This measure is important for the USF student and INCREASE: PAGE 2 Graffiti and Vandalism on the Rise at USF KIMIKO BARBOUR/FOGHORN A dumpster behind Phelan Hall displays the rise of graffiti on campus. ANGELA MEUANGKHOTH ''SiaffWriie'r Since the war in Iraq there has been a slight increase in graffiti. Susan Davison, Director of Facilities Management, said there have been several new incidents of graffiti since March 6. "Since most ofthe (most recent) graffiti was in chalk, it was easily removed with water," she said. "Although chalk is not personal defacement, chalking [USF property] is still graffiti because Plant Services has to take the time out to wash it off." Students and Faculty React s Students and faculty are also noticing more graffiti on campus, including hate graffiti and pro- and anti-war graffiti. Cindy Tejada, senior psychology major, said she does not like graffiti because it is an unnecessary form of expression and defaces school property. "I don't agree with vandalism and I don't feel that there is ever a reason to cause vandalism. I feel that some people [resort to] vandalism because they believe that it is the only way they can get their point across. Whether it is graffiti on the wall or damaging property, I feel there are other ways to express yourself." Bruce Vail, junior politics major, also commented on graffiti. "Fools' names and idiots' faces are often found in public places," Vail said. "Surely these people must have better things to do than create graffiti." John Nelson, theology and religious studies professor, said he saw graffiti scratched into the wall in the men's bathroom in Campion Hall. "The graffiti in Campion said 'F-â Iraq,'" Nelson said. "[It] was written very large and scratched into the wall." Sverre Sundbo, a junior international business major, did not think the graffiti in Campion was a viable means of expression. "In terms of graffiti, as a political statement such as 'Fâ Iraq' is a way for one to express himself, but the way he has done it is ridiculous act of vandalism." Alexa Silva, senior psychology major, said students should not graffiti because other stu dents have to see it. "Being a college student, people could be more mature about the way they express their opinion and view...because in the end we have to see the defacement of our school property." Evan West, senior history major and chief Graphic Center designer, said the ASUSF graphics center disapproves of vandalism, "because [it is] defacing school property and the result reflects negatively upon the University." Josh Bias, a junior politics major, said although graffiti is stupid, it is a way for other students to be informed about information. "Well it's in the bathroom where every one gets their 411,1 mean, come on, the stupidity is in the eyes of the reader." Sundbo, however, wanted to draw a distinction between regular graffiti and artistic graffiti. "Art graffiti on the other hand, is a great way to express yourself as long as the graffitist has been given the approval to create it," he said. "The graffitist can express himself within area of acceptance for tolerance of graffiti. However, vandalism graffiti within art graffiti is ridiculous. CLEANING UP: PAGE 2 news opinion Senate candidates quadruple since fall elections. 2 USF professor Stephen Zunes argues that in America, economic security trumps human rights. 4 c&c The visual and performing arts department will present the 11th annual Gospelfest. 6 scene The 4th and Geary Farmer's Market provides fresh produce at good prices close to campus. 8 sports Face-off: Two stu dents debate the rehiring of Men's Basketball coach Phil Mathews 10
Object Description
Rating | |
Publication Date | 2003-04-10 |
Volume | 99 |
Issue | 21 |
Newpaper Title | San Francisco Foghorn |
Issue Title | San Francisco Foghorn Volume 99 Issue 21 |
Number of pages | 10 |
Page size (W x L) in inches | 14X22.5 |
Scanner setting -DPI | 300 |
Notable content | Students Will Vote n Activites Fee Increase |
Date Scanned | 2014-11-03 |
File Name | index.cpd |
Source | index.cpd |
Language | eng |
tag | foghorn |
Description
Newpaper Title | 2003041009921_01 |
File Name | 2003041009921_01.jpg |
Source | 2003041009921_01.jpg |
Language | eng |
Transcript | an irranttscu irnghnrn University of San Francisco Vol. 99 Issue Twenty One FREEDOM AND FAIRNESS April 10, 2003 Hope for the Corporate Soul ANNA KASPER '''''slajf'Wriie'r''' In the aftermath of recent corporate scandals, is there a corporate soul left to save? The answer is "yes" according to four corporate executives who discussed the importance of integrity and values in Corporate America at a panel last week. The panel, which was led by Associate Professor of Theology and Religious Studies David Batstone, coincided with the release of his book "Saving the Corporate Soul." "There [are] enough Enron, WorldCom and Arthur Andersen stories out there and I really wanted to tell a story about companies that do it right," said Batstone, who spent the last year and a half investigating how companies go about doing business ethically. "There [are] a lot of stories about people who are pretty inspiring." All of the panelists--Gary Erickson, owner and CEO of ClifBar; Phyllis Jackson, Vice President of Charles Schwab; Danny Grossman, founder and CEO of Wild Planet Toys; and Michael Kieschnick, co-founder and President of Working Assets- agreed that a company must stay true to its values and be able to communicate them to their employees and customers. Transparency, a business-world concept, is essential to this goal. Transparency is, "...owning up to and being very upfront about what they're doing and why they're doing it," Batstone said. He said this is the way companies are going to be able to beat the bad rap that many have earned in recent years. Grossman founded Wild Planet Toys, a company that offers toys that "parents can endorse and kids think are cool." For instance, Wild Planet wanted to get away from marketing violent toys to boys and sexist toys to girls. "I walked in the door first and foremost to create a company based on values," Grossman said. "Your values, ifyou stay true to them, will get you somewhere." Grossman said a company must have, "...an articulated channel of dissent." Employees need to know who to tell if they see a problem within the company, and how the problem will be handled. Jackson, the Vice President of Schwab, said a way for a company to stay honest is to make sure that "...employees at every level [are] able to say 'That's not right.'" Grossman said "internal transparency," or a system that allows every member of a company to know what is happening and how the company is doing, is critical. Each month at Wild Planet a different employee is responsible for giving a financial update to the entire company. This allows the employees to see how the company is doing over time. Erickson, of ClifBar, said he wants transparency at every level in his company. "They get to see however it is," Erickson said of his employees. "They get to see me, hear me, feel me." Erickson laughed as he said this - such a level of closeness may be too much for his colleagues when he comes directly to work after a long bike ride. Kieschnick is co-founder of Working Assets, a long distance company that donates a portion of its revenue to progressive causes. His key to transparency is simple: "Only make a few promises that are quantitative. Stick to them and report on it." Jackson said promoting diversity was central to her role at Schwab. "If you create an environment where you can bring all of who you are - race, gender, sexual orientation - to work and have all employees do that, that creates diversity." Kieschnick replied, "I think there's been an increase [in diversity]." But he was also quick to point out that there is a big difference between a small company like his and a larger one hke Schwab. Jackson, who is an alumna of USF, said being at the University had given her "a sense of personal empowerment," which has helped her in the work force. As a graduate of the College of Professional Studies, she said the autobiographical essays she was required to write helped her "find my voice" and understand that sometimes one must "go along to get along." Batstone, whom USA Today recently called America's "foremost expert on ethics," said his book covers the environment, globalization, the individual worker and other issues in addition to corporate ethics. He is already working on a sequel. KIMIKO BARBOUR/FOGHORN The ASUSF Finance Committee held their annual budget hearings last weekend. The committee is finding it harder to meet the requests of all funded accounts with the current student activities fee. An initiative to vote for an increase in student fees will be placed on next weeks ASUSF ballots. Students Will Vote on Activities Fee Increase SARA STEELE 'SiaffWriie'r An initiative has been added to the ASUSF election ballot to increase the student activities fee by $20 per semester. A group of concerned students, headed by Joe Macias and Dominic Caruso, proposed this increase from $60 to $80 because they think events, clubs and organizations on campus could use more resources. The student activities fee funds several accounts, such as Superfund, College Players, Greek Council, FACES, the Foghorn and ASUSF Senate. Macias, a senior politics and sociology major, said these organizations need more funding than they are now receiving. Macias' proposal states, "So that every undergraduate student can benefit from larger programs through ASUSF clubs and organizations, funded accounts and individual members, I recommend that the Board of Trustees and the University administration increase the semester student activities fee from $60 to $80." Macias presented his proposal to the ASUSF Senate at its April 1 meeting. The Senate passed a resolution to add this initiative to the ballot. The student body will be able to vote on the fee raise during elections on April 14, 15 and 16. In order to pass the initiative, 20 percent of the 3,612 students at USF must vote. Out of that 20 percent, two-thirds must approve the raise for it to pass. If the initiative passes at the student elections, it will then be presented to the Board of Trustees, which will decide whether or not to implement it. Macias stressed the important role that funding can play for organizations on campus. "When everyone is given a budget, they have to work within the actual budget that they have, so if they want to do new programs they might not be able to because of a lack of funding," Macias said. "I'm a student leader and I know that on campus it is harder to program without the money. Students want to see larger events and we can't really do larger events without the actual funding. It's all about taking initiative, so we decided to do that this year." Vice President of Business Administration Tim Keane said the raise in the student activities fee would benefit the students. "As far as the Student Activity Fee, there is no drawback, as far as the Student Organizations of ASUSF go, to raising it," Keane said. "More money is more money, and all ofthe ASUSF funded accounts, as well as the un-funded accounts which are funded through club funding and Superfund, would benefit." The Board of Trustees raised the student activities fee from $50 to $60 in 1999, and Macias said it is time for another raise. Macias said although his proposal states an increase of $20, the Board ofTrustees could decide to only raise the fee by $5 or $10. Macias said this raise will benefit all students. "Do students want larger events?" Macias asked. "Then we need more money for clubs and more resources." Macias' proposal states, "This measure is important for the USF student and INCREASE: PAGE 2 Graffiti and Vandalism on the Rise at USF KIMIKO BARBOUR/FOGHORN A dumpster behind Phelan Hall displays the rise of graffiti on campus. ANGELA MEUANGKHOTH ''SiaffWriie'r Since the war in Iraq there has been a slight increase in graffiti. Susan Davison, Director of Facilities Management, said there have been several new incidents of graffiti since March 6. "Since most ofthe (most recent) graffiti was in chalk, it was easily removed with water," she said. "Although chalk is not personal defacement, chalking [USF property] is still graffiti because Plant Services has to take the time out to wash it off." Students and Faculty React s Students and faculty are also noticing more graffiti on campus, including hate graffiti and pro- and anti-war graffiti. Cindy Tejada, senior psychology major, said she does not like graffiti because it is an unnecessary form of expression and defaces school property. "I don't agree with vandalism and I don't feel that there is ever a reason to cause vandalism. I feel that some people [resort to] vandalism because they believe that it is the only way they can get their point across. Whether it is graffiti on the wall or damaging property, I feel there are other ways to express yourself." Bruce Vail, junior politics major, also commented on graffiti. "Fools' names and idiots' faces are often found in public places," Vail said. "Surely these people must have better things to do than create graffiti." John Nelson, theology and religious studies professor, said he saw graffiti scratched into the wall in the men's bathroom in Campion Hall. "The graffiti in Campion said 'F-â Iraq,'" Nelson said. "[It] was written very large and scratched into the wall." Sverre Sundbo, a junior international business major, did not think the graffiti in Campion was a viable means of expression. "In terms of graffiti, as a political statement such as 'Fâ Iraq' is a way for one to express himself, but the way he has done it is ridiculous act of vandalism." Alexa Silva, senior psychology major, said students should not graffiti because other stu dents have to see it. "Being a college student, people could be more mature about the way they express their opinion and view...because in the end we have to see the defacement of our school property." Evan West, senior history major and chief Graphic Center designer, said the ASUSF graphics center disapproves of vandalism, "because [it is] defacing school property and the result reflects negatively upon the University." Josh Bias, a junior politics major, said although graffiti is stupid, it is a way for other students to be informed about information. "Well it's in the bathroom where every one gets their 411,1 mean, come on, the stupidity is in the eyes of the reader." Sundbo, however, wanted to draw a distinction between regular graffiti and artistic graffiti. "Art graffiti on the other hand, is a great way to express yourself as long as the graffitist has been given the approval to create it," he said. "The graffitist can express himself within area of acceptance for tolerance of graffiti. However, vandalism graffiti within art graffiti is ridiculous. CLEANING UP: PAGE 2 news opinion Senate candidates quadruple since fall elections. 2 USF professor Stephen Zunes argues that in America, economic security trumps human rights. 4 c&c The visual and performing arts department will present the 11th annual Gospelfest. 6 scene The 4th and Geary Farmer's Market provides fresh produce at good prices close to campus. 8 sports Face-off: Two stu dents debate the rehiring of Men's Basketball coach Phil Mathews 10 |
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