Coffee isn’t just the miracle liquid that keeps you awake all day.

It is also behind an economic battle between impoverished coffee farmers and the lucrative business of selling coffee worldwide.

A smaller turf battle simmers on the DU campus over those same issues.

Students are quietly working with campus food services provided by Sodhexo and DU administration to help small coffee farmers get a fair price for their coffee beans.

Students for Positive Social Change (SPSC) would like to see 100 percent of coffee sold on campus to come from Fair Trade cooperatives that pay farmers a decent living wage.

Petitions passed around last year indicated student support for 100 percent Fair Trade coffee, but a recent survey shows that only about 20 percent of coffee sold on campus is Fair Trade certified (see Coffee on Campus graphic right).

In an effort to move closer to SPSC’s goal, Sodhexo General Manager Tony DiRaddo will soon be meeting with Seattle’s Best and Green Mountain representatives to transition to selling 100 percent of their Fair Trade lines.

Members of SPSC feel certain that DU students would support a 100 percent Fair Trade campus.

However, SPSC members recognize the need for continuing to educate DU students and administration about Fair Trade coffee.

“Fair Trade is not a different flavor coffee; it is an ethical economic trading model,” said Adam Buehler, SPSC spokesman.

“Fair Trade is the only way to satisfy the hunger for economic justice on campus.” Buehler said. “Sodhexo and DU administration are helping by providing more FT coffee.”

Buehler is optimistic that Neil Krauss, Assistant Vice Chancellor for Business and Financial Affairs, will be instrumental in achieving this goal by switching DU to Fair Trade Coffee

SPSC members meet Wednesday nights to discuss plans to get their vision across to DU students.