----- Original Message -----
From: center for commercial-free public education
To: unplug@igc.org
Sent: Tuesday, August 29, 2000 3:40 PM
Subject: Madison Kicks Out Coke!!
August 29, 2000
For Immediate Release
Contact:
Andrew Hagelshaw, Center for Commercial-Free Public
Education 510 268-1100
Ruth Robarts - Vice President, Madison School Board
608 238-2273
Matt D. Nelson Madison Resident 608 262-9036
Judy Gump Madison Memorial High School Teacher
608 294-0380
Madison School Board Votes to Leave Coke Contract
Becomes First School District to Enter, Then Leave
Exclusive Contract
Madison, WI- The Madison School Board voted Monday,
August 28 to end the school district's exclusive cola
contract with the Coca-Cola corporation. Madison was
among the first school districts to sign an exclusive cola
contract in June of 1997, and now becomes the very first
to cancel an already existing deal.
"This vote was very significant, and indicates the new trend
of rejecting exclusive cola contracts around the country,"
said Andrew Hagelshaw, Executive Director for the Center
for Commercial-Free Public Education. "Madison helped
start a trend in 1997, and now will start another. Districts
are realizing that these deals only take advantage of under-
funded schools and turn students into a captive audience
for brand name advertisingS and for an unhealthy product
at that."
Community opposition to the Coke contract in Madison had
grown significantly during the last three years. A group of
60 parents, students, teachers, and community members
showed up to Mondayıs meeting, several of which testified
in opposition to the contract. Board members stated that
they had received "overwhelming public opposition" to the
Coke contract. The final vote registered 5-2 against Coke.
Several other proposed deals have been rejected nationally
this year, including a $43 million deal with Coke voted down
by Philadelphia schools in January 2000. Sacramento
(CA) schools recently voted down a Pepsi offer and are
now investigating whether soda machines belong in schools
at all. The Dental Associations of Michigan and
Pennsylvania recently came out publicly in opposition to
exclusive cola deals. ###
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