Harvard to Purchase Only Union Lettuce In Support of Boycott

Harvard will purchase only United Farm Worker lettuce, L. Gard Wiggins, administrative vice-president, announced in a statement to be released this morning.

In the statement, the Administration makes clear that Harvard's participation in the boycott of non-UFW lettuce is an expression of support for the migrant workers.

"The situation of the migratory farm workers makes this a unique case," Wiggins said. "This is in no sense an ordinary collective bargaining dispute. The migratory farm workers' plight-too long neglected-is a matter of intense human and social concern."

The University's action is a departure from earlier purchasing policies. C. Graham Hurlburt Jr., director of Food Services, said last month that Harvard decided to stop buying grapes last year because of high prices-not because of the UFW boycott.

Wiggins's statement also pointed to the Houses' Committee resolution passed last week as a major, influence on the University's reconsideration of its lettuce policy.

The student-faculty committee recommended that the University "purchase where it is possible without additional cost to students only United Farm Workers lettuce or otherwise buy acceptable substitutes."

'Significant'

"For the Administration to take the stand they did is very significant," said John H. Petrey '71, a member of the Ad Hoc Committee on Lettuce.

"Harvard has never made economic policy in support of the workers before-and Harvard buys a lot of lettuce," he added.

The decision marks the end result of a sustained effort on the part of a small group of students and faculty members to convince Harvard to participate in the lettuce boycott. The Ad Hoc Committee on Lettuce first brought the issue to public attention with a petition five weeks ago.

Boycotts

When the Administration contested their claim of widespread student support, the Ad Hoc Committee called for the boycotts of three House dining rooms over the issue. Two weeks ago, the Ad Hoc Committee first brought their request before the Houses' Committee.

The Administration was satisfied with the committee's assessment of community opinion on the issue. "It

has thoroughly canvassed the question and also taken note of the fact that the proposed policy may require the dining halls to curtail or stop serving lettuce in order to avoid increased student costs," Wiggins said.

Can't Be Too Sure

The Ad Hoc Committee will work with the Administration on details for an inspection system later this week. "It's not that we don't trust the Administration," Petrey said, "but the wholesale companies have been known to slip scab lettuce into the shipments, and you can never be too sure."