In an attempt to satisfy demands for a third-party audit of its labor practices in Colombia, the Coca-Cola Company has requested that the International Labor Organization undertake an independent investigation last week.

The ILO, an arm of the United Nations that upholds internationally recognized human and labor rights, has agreed to do the investigation.

Student and global activists, though, said the credibility of the investigation is dubious at best because one of the ILO's members is a high-ranking Coca-Cola employee.

Ed Potter, the U.S. employer representative to the ILO, also serves as Coke's director of global relations.

Terry Collingsworth, an attorney representing the Colombian union workers, vehemently rejected the credibility of the investigation in a written statement, arguing that Potter's presence on the ILO is a blatant conflict of interest.

"The U.S. employer representative is a very powerful and influential position within the ILO," Collingsworth wrote. "In short, Coca-Cola won't agree to any process it can't control."

Today marks the passing of one of the University's original deadlines for the company outlined nine months ago. Coke was supposed to have completed an independent audit by today.

This was the first deadline since Dec. 31, when Coke was supposed to have agreed in writing to an independent audit. Because it didn't, the University suspended purchasing of Coca-Cola products.

The University said then it would resume its purchasing of Coke if the independent investigations got back on track.

Peggy Norgren, the University's associate vice president for finance, said the investigation seems credible to her.

The University is still considering whether to accept the ILO review, she said.

Members of the Coalition to Cut the Contracts with Coca-Cola voiced concerns over the legitimacy of the proposed investigation.

RC senior Ashwini Hardikar said she disagrees with the investigation because of Potter's involvement, and because it does not address Coke's alleged violations in India.

Coca-Cola spokeswoman Kari Bjorhus defended the investigation's credibility.

"I can't imagine another authority that is more credible or has higher integrity than the International Labor Organization of the U.N.," Bjorhus said.

Coalition members plan to meet with Norgren today to share their concerns about the investigation and discuss the University's future plans for dealing with Coke.

RC sophomore Adri Miller said communication between students and the administration will be vital to ensuring that Coke is held to the standards of the Vendor Code of Conduct.

"We want to know what's been going on regarding Coke and the administration," Miller said.

Miller emphasized that the student movement would not end because of any action the company takes short of remedying the wrongs it has perpetuated around the world.

Hardikar echoed Miller's sentiments.

"Regardless of whether or not they agree on an independent investigation, until the people in Turkey, Colombia, India and Indonesia themselves feel that justice has been served, we don't think the contracts should be renewed," she said.