"Boise, an Idaho-based office supplies company, has outraged many people because of its massive destruction of ancient and endangered forests around the world," said Mike Pesa, junior history major who is a member of both SEED and CHANGE, in his press release for the rallies.

SEED sponsored a rally at the M.A.C. Center, then carpooled to the Cleveland rally, where they joined other protesters in front of Boise's local distribution center located at 17909 Cleveland Pkwy.

CHANGE members attended the rallies to support SEED's efforts.

"I'd like to see what's going on in Cleveland to gain information and focus on a plan of action here at Kent," said Lauren Miheli, junior conservation major who is also a member of both SEED and CHANGE.

Nationwide, there were over 60 events held in the effort to protect endangered forests from Boise.

The Day of Action against Boise was coordinated by an informal grassroots coalition of local and national groups, including Rainforest Action Network and the American Lands Alliance.

"Every year, according to the National Academy of Science, a rainforest the size of Great Britain disappears," Pesa said.

SEED and CHANGE would like the university to end its contract with Boise and use a more responsible paper company, such as Badger, which is certified by the Forest Stewardship Council.

Last August, three SEED members met with three university administrators, John Flasco, manager of procurement, and three representatives from Boise to discuss the issue.

From this meeting, "no definitive decision was made," Pesa said.

Pesa attributes this to lack of communication on what the meeting was about.

Flasco explained to the <ital>Daily Kent Stater<ital> how Boise became the university's supplier.

"The university solicited public bids for an office and paper products supplier that followed university policy and Ohio procurement laws. The bid was awarded to Total Office Products which furnishes Boise products," he said.

"We were about to renew their contract for another year (when we were approached by SEED). We agreed to extend their contract on a month-to-month basis, pending the decisions with Boise," he said.

Flasco provided the three SEED members (who attended the meeting) with Boise information packets, which included Boise's safety report and conservation and certification programs.

His intent was to be a conduit between SEED and Boise.

"I took the emotion out of it," he said. "I looked at it as a businessman making a business decision. That's why I didn't feel comfortable making the decision by myself, and I brought in other people (administrators)."

In preparation for the August meeting, Flasco asked SEED members to formulate their questions ahead of time so that Boise could prepare its response.

"SEED had prepared six or seven questions, which the Boise staff adequately answered," he said.

Flasco said it appeared that there was a lot of false information presented regarding Boise.

Some of the questions asked by SEED accused Boise of being involved in logging at certain times or in certain places where Boise was never present and, therefore, not involved.

"That in and of itself convinced me that there would be no satisfactory answer to (SEED's) questions," he said.

The decision to keep Boise was unanimous among all four university administrators.

"I was somewhat disappointed a few days after the meeting," Flasco said. "I received a phone call from a person outside the university that said he received minutes of the meeting and that I had entered into the meeting with my mind made up and that I had a hostile attitude toward SEED.

"I thought my attitude was cooperative. I saw to it that Boise answered all the questions SEED had. I'm not saying that (Boise) has never made a mistake in the past, but they've shown that they are making progress to end contracts that log from old growth forests," he said. "I see no reason to make a change. I feel good about the decision," he said.

SEED will continue in its effort, fueled by the example of other universities, such as Notre Dame University, which have dropped the Boise account.

"We need people to get involved," Pesa said.

"Our meetings are every Wednesday night at 7:30 in room 308 in the Student Center. Get involved. Write letters to Cartwright and Flasco," he said. "I'm just a Kent student fighting for the moral integrity of Kent State."

E-mail: bhbenko@kent.edu