Temple University will join more than 180 other colleges and universities as part of the Worker Rights Consortium, an independent labor rights monitoring organization that focuses on the labor practices of factories that make university-related apparel. The issue was raised last fall by the Temple Coalition of Students Against Sweatshops.

"Membership in the Worker Rights Consortium makes public our commitment to work with apparel suppliers to ensure their workers are being treated fairly and that Temple-branded merchandise is manufactured under the best possible working conditions," said Richard Rumer, associate vice president for business services.

Temple students specifically have raised concerns about Adidas and its treatment of workers at the closed PT Kizone factory in Indonesia. Rumer said the university will send a stern letter to Adidas asking them to explain the allegations about severance pay due to the workers.

Most of the university's apparel is currently produced through Under Armour.