Earlier this month, LSA senior Aria Everts faced a dilemma when she was tapped to join the senior honor society Order of Angell.

Everts questioned whether she should join the group and help implement reforms from the inside out or turn down the invitation because of the group's secrecy.

She said her decision to decline the invitation shows how her outlook on reform has changed since she came to the University.

Before transferring to the University from the International Academy of Design and Technology in Chicago, Everts thought she could change the way the clothing industry does business from the inside out.

Over the past three years, Everts has been one of the most consistently active and visible members of the labor rights group Students Organizing for Labor and Economic Equality.

SOLE has earned a reputation on campus for it's often extreme demonstrations against the use of sweatshops in the manufacturing of University-licensed apparel. These include the group's "I'd rather be naked" protest and last year's sit-in at University President Mary Sue Coleman's office.

Looking back, Everts said she was na've to think she could change how business was done from within a company.

"I really don't think it's possible to work within the systems we find ourselves in," she said.

But for someone who is still banned from the Fleming Administration Building after being led away from Coleman's office in plastic handcuffs last April, Everts has also spent considerable time working with the University administration and other student groups.

She has served as a student representative on Coleman's Advisory Committee on Labor Standards and Human Rights and the Michigan Student Assembly's Peace and Justice Commission.

"Aria maintained a consistently positive and open approach, even when she did not agree with the outcomes of committee's processes," said School of Social Work Prof. Larry Root, who chaired the advisory committee.

LSA junior Blase Kearney, a fellow SOLE member, said Everts has greatly improved SOLE's relationship with other campus groups.

"They learn to associate SOLE with Aria because she's always out there," he said.

Students of the year  -  Published March 25th, 2008
- By Kelly Fraser