Students protest to ‘wipe’ out paper

Students wearing T-shirts that read “Forest Crimes Unit” held up banners with the slogan “Cut Kimberly-Clark” and surrounded the Sample Gates with “Forest Crime Scene” yellow tape in protest one of the world’s largest tissue manufacturers Wednesday. \nIU’s student Kleercut campaign teamed up with Greenpeace Wednesday to protest the University’s use of Kimberly-Clark products, which include Kleenex tissues, Huggies diapers and Cotonelle toilet paper. Greenpeace student network coordinator Robin Averbeck said she believes the company is responsible for cutting down ancient forests.\n“Although the University’s policy states that it will not be a willing partner in ancient forest destruction,” Averbeck said, “IU still remains a huge purchaser of Kimberly-Clark.”\nAncient forests refer to any forest habitat that has remained untouched more than 100 years, senior Steven Furr said.\n“There are only 20 percent of these forests left.” Furr said. “And the forest, Boreal of North America, that Kimberly-Clark is cutting down, represents 25 percent of that 20 percent.”\nGreenpeace teams up with student organizations all over the country to stop Kimberly-Clark products, Averbeck said.\n“Many major universities have stopped their connection with Kimberly Clark: Harvard University, Rice University, Indiana Wesleyan University and University of Miami.” Averbeck said. “Many other universities have spoken to Kimberly-Clark about their concerns.”\nThe Kleercut campaign had previously contacted the University, but they hadn’t reached an agreement. Furr said the protest is used to open everyone’s eyes to the issue, to get action together and to show that the group has student support.\n“I hadn’t even heard about this issue, and neither had any of my friends before the protest,” said freshman Sarah A. Fox. “I definitely agree that this is an issue.”\nThe cutting down of ancient forests is an issue that needs to be addressed, but the protest seemed more like a photo shoot, sophomore Anne Rathell said. \n“Greenpeace is always protesting the same thing, big corporations ruining the environment,” Rathell said. “They won’t be happy until people live in grass huts with no cars, air conditioner or anything that makes life easier.” \nIt is presumed that 24 percent of global warming is caused by the cutting down of ancient forests, Furr said. \n“It is time for IU to enforce their own policy,” Furr said. “No purchasing from corporations that cut down old growth forests. It is time to cut Kimberly-Clark.”