Washington University Joins MoveOn.Org's Target Boycott

Might MoveOn.org’s Target boycott be gaining steam? Washington University has jumped aboard, backing out of a deal to funnel students to an event at the retail giant, the school’s student newspaper reports. The school was one of several set to participate in the “Target After Hours Shopping Event,” in which the giant would bus in freshmen to shop after the store’s official closing time, providing opportunities for them to win prizes in the process.

But when the school’s associate vice chancellor of student affairs heard about Target’s $150,000 donation to a group funding a politician opposed to gay marriage, she checked the school’s policies and, after speaking with other school officials, canceled the event. WU is considered an LGBT-friendly school, winning a five-star rating from the Campus Pride advocacy group. “We need to walk the walk,” the associate vice chancellor said. Target has, incidentally, apologized for the donation. (More MoveOn.org stories.)