Ohio State University’s student government unanimously voted on Thursday to ask the school to discontinue its affiliation with Wendy’s.
The university’s lease for the Wendy’s restaurant in Doan Hall within the Wexner Medical Center will expire on June 30.
Students are advocating for Wendy’s to join The Fair Food Program partnership, which insures fair pay and safer conditions for U.S agricultural workers. The partnership has been recognized by United Nations Working Group on Business and Human Rights for its success in protecting workers' rights.
Other fast food restaurants like McDonalds, Burger King and Taco Bell have all adopted the program.
Wendy’s instead relies on third party reviews to ensure its suppliers are complying with its code of conduct.
In a statement, and Ohio State spokesman said the university "respects the role of the Undergraduate Student Government General Assembly to act as the student voice on issues pertinent to campus affairs. We will carefully study the USG resolution and determine how to proceed.”
In 2017, 19 students fasted for seven days at Ohio State to boycott Wendy's, and urged the university not to renew the fast food chain's lease. Despite those protests, Ohio State renewed Wendy's lease for another three years.
