Issue date: 2/8/07 Section: Sports

Media Credit: MCT

On Wednesday, Feb. 14 a Wallyball tournament will be held in the squash courts of the Dixon center to promote Fair Trade awareness.

The tournament will consist of up to 16 teams of either two, three or four persons. Wallyball is very similar to volleyball, however is played indoors and against a wall. Fair Trade volleyballs will be used for the tournament.

"The volleyballs we will be using were made from people in another country and we can feel confident that they earned fair wages," Coordinator of Student-Athlete Wellness Jackie Neary said.

Fair Trade is an association of fair trade wholesalers, retailers and producers whose members are committed to providing fair wages and good employment opportunities to economically disadvantaged artisans and farmers worldwide.

Sports balls are one of Fair Trade's many products. Other products include chocolate, coffee, sugar, cotton products, honey and flowers.

The event is supported by the athletic department's director of athletics and recreation Leslie Danehy, assistant director of recreation Orlin Jespersen, administrative coordinator Amanda Eckenroad and Neary.

"The athletic and recreation departments are very proud to be participating in this event because it is a very important issue that people should be aware of," Neary said.

A soccer tournament using Fair Trade soccer balls is another event that the departments wish to pursue.

These departments are working to promote Fair Trade as much as possible to encourage consumers to make fair choices about which products to purchase and to have them regulated by the National Collegiate Athletic Association to use during sporting events.

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