Update: If anyone is in the Charlottesville area, please report to Madison Hall, across from the Rotunda, at 1:30 PM today. The student demonstrators will present a counter-proposal to President Casteen. The sit-in may very well end sometime this afternoon, which way, we do not know. We need as many supporters out there as possible. -Corey, via an email from someone at UVa
The student protest at UVA in support of a living wage for all university employees enters its fourth day today. Currently 17 UVA students sit in protest inside of Madison Hall refusing to leave until UVA President John Casteen agrees to the wage changes. The 4-day old sit-in has thus far featured a professor arrested for assisting the students, administration officials preventing the students from getting food and massive student rallies in front of the building (image to the right).
From their website:
We are sitting in because we have exhausted every avenue of dialogue with the administration that could lead to a living wage. We are sitting in because UVa+óGé¼Gäós wage policies threaten the economic survival and violate the dignity of University workers. And finally, we are sitting in because poverty in our community is vicious and cannot wait any longer for remedy.Our basic demand remains the same as always: All University employees, whether directly employed or hired through outside firms, must be paid a living wage of at least $10.72 per hour before benefits, adjusted at least annually to inflation and the cost of living in Charlottesville. Complete implementation also requires the following:
*Prioritization of currently employed workers. In implementing the living wage policy and in related organizational changes, no jobs, wages, or benefits will be eliminated or decreased as a result. Ultimately, the University has a responsibility to all members of its Community of Trust, and if contractors prefer to disengage from the University rather than respect our commitment to social justice, the University has an obligation to prioritize the employment of any workers who work under those contractors, and ensure that their job status at the University will not be eliminated as a result.
*Creation of an oversight committee. A committee should be formed to ensure fair and complete implementation of the agreed upon policy. This committee must include workers, students, faculty and administrators, and must work within the timeline of implementing this living wage policy by the first day of the 2006 Fall Semester.
You can follow and voice your support of the protest on the UVa Living Wage Campaign website. The site also has a fascinating Quicktime video of the students entering Madison Hall on Day 1.
Recent media coverage of the event includes Professor arrested, students continue protest and Student protest enters third day. The most recent press release from the students is posted below the fold.
Charlottesville, VA- Students at the University of Virginia have begun
day three of a sit-in of Madison Hall, where the president's office is
located, demanding a living wage for all campus workers. Yesterday
the administration tightened regulations on these students; no
deliveries of food or other supplies were allowed to be made and
wireless internet service was purposely cut off to the students.
Students have run out of food and will not be eating breakfast this
morning. Still, support overflowed outside from across the community,
including letters of support from several UVa groups including the Z
society. Over 200 faculty members sent a letter to Pres. Casteen
supportive of the Living Wage Campaign.In the afternoon, UVa Professor Peter Ochs attempted to deliver
Passover food and books for students inside Madison Hall but was
denied. A rally at 1 PM featured student and faculty speakers
including Wende Marshall, tenured professor Grace Hale and the
president of the University Democrats, student Katie Cristol. A vigil
at 5 PM featured faculty members standing up in support of the
students inside and ended with more than 15 tents set up on the lawn
in front of Madison Hall. After a high-energy night, over 30 students
slept and kept vigil in front of the building throughout the night.Much of the discourse throughout Thursday revolved around Founders Day
and the lack of historical integrity with the University's poverty
wages. In addition, our response to President Casteen's April 12
letter, referring to a letter from the Deputy Attorney General, is
attached to this email. The administration has expressed that they are
unwilling to negotiate wages in any way and thus students have made
clear they will remain sitting in, as the University cannot escape its
moral imperative to respect workers' basic human rights and pay a
living wage.On Friday, the schedule will continue with a rally at 1pm and a vigil
at 4:45 in front of Madison Hall. At 1pm, Dave Norris and Julian
Taliaferro, candidates for city council, will speak in addition to
former vice-mayor Meredith Richards. Clergy of various backgrounds
will also join us at the rally. At the evening vigil Charles Marsh,
head of the Project on Liberation Theology at UVa will speak as well
students.On Saturday April 15, US Congressional Candidate Al Weed will speak at
1 PM. Many students inside the sit-in are missing key religious
celebrations this week. Special Easter events will be held Sunday
afternoon in front of Madison Hall and are open to families of
workers, faculty and the Charlottesville community. Supporters plan a
continued presence at Madison Hall to demand an indexed living wage
for all university workers.