Student protest Neiman Marcus
By Kiran Hashmi (Daily Texan Staff)
February 9, 2001

Students Against Cruelty to Animals representatives protested department store Neiman Marcus' on-campus recruitment efforts Thursday in an attempt to inform students about the company's continued sale of fur clothing.

"We want to hold companies accountable for what they do," said Will Potter, a journalism junior and representative of the organization. "If consumers, students and employees begin to put pressure on Neiman Marcus, they will put pressure on the whole fur industry."

Beth Weedon, assistant recruiting manager for Neiman Marcus, said she doesn't see the on-campus protest as a threat to the company's recruitment efforts. Weedon said recruiting students for a merchandising development program is not a means of promoting the fur industry.

However, Potter said the student organization understands that recruiters shouldn't be the focus of the group's campaign. The organization instead directs its efforts at raising awareness among the student body.

"Students looking for jobs need to question a company's policies," Potter said. "Money has a lot of power, and so does your job. Your workplace needs to be a place that coincides with your moral beliefs."

Neiman Marcus spokeswoman Alexandra Elliott said she doesn't believe protests will have much effect on the company's policies or customers.

"We respect the right of the protesters to voice their views," she said. "But we also respect our customers' right and freedom of choice in the purchase of legal merchandise."