(March 26, 2004) — Sigh… it’s finally second semester of senior year: thirty-three long months down, little more than three more months to go. As graduation is fast approaching, seniors are starting to order their caps and gowns from Jostens Incorporated. Such an action is not unusual, but due to Jostens’ past scandals regarding prison labor, Clark should think twice about buying products from the company. While buying graduation memorabilia such as tacky class rings with nothing more than the number “2004” is optional, graduating seniors are forced to buy their caps and gowns if they want to participate in the graduation ceremony. Requiring students to buy their caps and gowns from Jostens seems harmless enough, but without knowing the reality of Jostens’ background, students are forced into making a choice, if choice even exists, that may potentially increase the exploitation of workers in Mexico. An article in Portland, Oregon by Andrea Townsend, a senior at Franklin High School , reveals that in 2001, Jostens created its products by using prison labor from South Carolina. Due to the efforts of FHS seniors to sue the company, Jostens later changed its labor policies—or at least said it did—when it decided to use labor in Mexico instead of prison labor. Although the International Standards Organization classified this labor in Mexico as “safe” and “not exploitative,” the Franklin High students still believed that workers in Mexico were being taken advantaged of, since, according to the article, “it is well known that in Mexico, union organizing is often suppressed, wages are low, and labor standards lax.” When contacted, the company was not able to respond to these allegations since the company public relations representative did not return phone calls. Jostens will only change its policies if its consumers, such as graduating seniors, not only dissent, but act on these injustices. One way to act on the situation is to buy graduation products from another company such as The Cap and Gown Depot, which can be accessed at www.capandgowndepot.com. If 100 or more students purchase a cap and gown set, each student would only have to pay $20, which includes tax and shipping, as opposed to paying $27, without tax and shipping, if he/she buys from Jostens. Thus, with these prices and Jostens’ labor policies in consideration, students should not be forced to buy their graduation attire from Jostens.Graduation is indeed a privilege and the administration does spend time planning it. However, since it is a ceremony in honor of students’ accomplishments, the participating students should have the option of planning the ceremony, including where to buy what they wear. In the 1950s it was common for people to smoke, but scientific research has shown that smoking is fatal. Therefore, just because something is common does not mean that it is the right thing to do. Since ninth grade, students have been required to read novels such as Fahrenheit 451 and 1984, which warn against the dangers of conformity. It would be hypocritical, then, for the administration to expect students to blindly conform to the “common practices” that are indeed unjust. To read Townsend’s article please visit: http://rethinkingschools.com/publication/rg/RGJost.shtml .