This is our flyer, more or less. You may actually see these floating around already since the union has asked if they can start distributing them now and since the OU College Democrats may or may not use some parts of it (but if they do, they assure me that they will credit us). Dave Logan is printing this and I will bring them with me to the picket line tomorrow.
- Nate
Hey guys, just wanted to let you know that my web column about the union lay-offs was published in The Post yesterday. Also, Jesse Hathaway has an equally good if not better column in today’s print edition, but it’s also available online.
- Nate
Hey guys…
So, I wrote an e-mail to the Post that will hopefully get the message out about us joining the Union picketers this Wednesday the 19th at 1:00 p.m. at the gates to college green (and yes, that was a little advertisment in there just in case you forgot what time and where it was.) I didn’t want it to be too long…in hopes of it actually getting published. So there’s a lot of little points missing…but I think I got the point across….
So……here it is!
To Whom It May Concern,
As you know, recently 24 of the hardest working employees of the university have been laid off due to “budget relocation”. The custodial staff here at Ohio University is some of the most dedicated truly inspiring personnel on campus. They are the men and womyn that students come into contact each day, they are the men and womyn who work behind the scenes while students are sleeping, and they are the men and womyn that have the thankless job of keeping this university running. Members of the administration said the lay-offs occurred due to “a budget reallocation” which included the hiring of several administrative positions whose salaries could support multiple members of the custodial staff. It is probable that members of the administration could provide many more bogus excuses for laying-off valued employees of this university. Whatever rationalizations are given, the point is these men and womyn need these jobs and should be reemployed as soon as possible.
Currently, four members of the union for the custodial staff are picketing at various locations handing out informational flyers, so that students might better understand the situation. Students for a Democratic Society fully support the efforts of these men and womyn in their attempts to be heard by the administration and help the “laid-off” workers regain employment. Unfortunately, the contract that the custodial staff recently signed states that they may have no more than three or four members picketing at each location. How can their dire message for reemployment be heard with so few voices? We urge all students to step up and show your support for this hard-working and dedicated group on Wednesday, September 19th when Students for a Democratic Society will be joining the picketers at 1:00 p.m. at the Gates to College Green.
Thank you,
Amanda Catron
Sophmore
Students for a Democratic Society
So…yeah. And sorry, I HAD to throw the word “bogus” in there somewhere.
See you guys Wednesday and/or Thursday!
Thanks,
Amanda C
Hey fellow Student Democrats. Here is what happened at last night’s weekly meeting.
We had the great privilege to have Dave Logan, president of the 1699 Union, join us last night to discuss the Custodial Service Workers strike. For those of you who don’t know, McDavis and Company recently reallocated 1.5 million dollars, most of which was to be used on police work. Well, 10% went to the Police, and the rest went to buying a brand new Vice President and accountants and an Assistant Director of Risk Managements. To “help” with these reallocations, McDavis and Co. changed the work patterns of several members of the Custodial Services here on campus. Full time workers have now been pushed back to part time, and their insurance has been cut in 1/2. This is not the first time that Custodial Services workers have been cut. This has been happening since 1999. When asked why it was better to have all these new administration positions than a clean school, it was stated that the University does not want another Virginia Tech. Now, the stipulation is if you have worked for 2 years, you qualify as a senior worker, and you can be bumped. Because of this current issue, we have decided to assist the Union in picketing. There will be a demonstration at every athletic game, and every event. According to Dave, ESPN, who comes to at least one of the games, have stated that they will not cross picket lines. So, how can you help? We will be picketing starting Wednesday on College Green. We will help pass out fliers, and peacefully get the attention that students care about their school and the people that assist in the reputation of the campus and keeping it looking strong and proud.
The rest of the meeting composed of breaking into respective groups on different issues. Will and a couple others are heading to DC this weekend to join in protests against the war. God speed Will and Co. and may you come back to us safely.
On the 28th, which is parent’s weekend and the Board of Trustees meeting, we are going to hold a rally, hopefully. The theme is Listen to Us. We want the Board of Trustees to hear why we are upset at the administration and what we want changed.
The Student Senate Resolution was passed this week. This means that every week McDavis and Smith must send out a Campus Wide Email that serves as a progress report.
Well, that is all I know for the week. Keep open minds, open hearts, and open freedom in your hearts. Until next time.
Something else we might want to talk about at the next meeting: Chris Yonker’s gratuitous use of racism in his column for The Post. Like this, from last week’s column:
We have tried everything to keep these crashers [undocumented immigrants] out but they keep sneaking in. They tunnel under our walls, travel in makeshift rafts across the waters and use fake IDs to get in.
And once they get in, these party crashers are bringing down the party. Jobs that once belonged to loyal, hardworking Americans now belong to this scum.
Or this, from today’s column:
It has been but three days since the anniversary [of 9/11] and already the event has likely flown from the minds of many students here at Ohio University. Only 2,191 days since the event itself and most minds in Athens are likely thinking about the weekend’s parties where they will consume an abhorrent amount of alcohol.
What party you should be thinking about is a little-known event where several Pakistanis, Arabs and Saudis are soberly talking about their next plot.
Ashley Diaz, president of the Latino Student Union, has a letter in The Post today calling for Yonker to be fired. I’d imagine there will be more outrage from Arab and Muslim students after today’s column.
- Nate
I totally forgot to bring this up during the meeting. This Saturday at Peden Stadium the Athens High School boys’ basketball team is hosting the World’s Largest Simon Says Competition, trying to get into the Guinness Book of World Records. I’m guessing there will be quite a bit of press coverage as well as student participation and that seems like a good opportunity to picket re: the union lay-offs. It’s at 1:00 P.M. at Peden Stadium. Just thought I’d throw that out there.
- Nate
The primary usage for this blog will be to help keep users up to date on the happenings of Students for a Democratic Society, Athens Ohio. This will serve as a way for everyone in the group to know what is going on, what issues are being discussed, and what steps are being taken to ensure a better Campus and Campus Community.
