The Fair Trade Students Association at American University is currently pressuring their administration to fill a soon-to-be-vacant spot in the Mary Graydon Center with a Pura Vida Coffee Shop instead of Starbucks. Pura Vida supplies coffee for a number of other universities; if the FTSA succeeds, this will be the first such shop in the District.

The FTSA at American was the first student organization in the United States devoted entirely to such coffee. From what we can tell, in previous years they have devoted themselves to teaching students about Fair Trade, inviting speakers to campus, and holding sales of various Fair Trade goods. From their archive it appears this is the first time they’ve taken the Fair Trade issue directly to campus vendors. If they succeed, the Pura Vida shop will join a number of other independent cafés in the area.

Of course, some still love to stop by their local Starbucks. Ayanna Winslow was probably one such person — that is, until earlier this week, when she reportedly found a large rodent dropping in a pastry she had bought from the Starbucks at 16th and U streets NW. According to WUSA/Channel 9, she received a written apology from the shop, but still plans on contacting a lawyer. An errant rat pellet is probably enough to make you a little worried about what else you’ve eaten, reconsider your choice in coffee shops, and hope the independent stores have better luck with rats.