University of Minnesota Strike - Day Two
Well I didn't get my nap last night. I went out and bought supplies so that I could make a shirt later. I also had my first fast food in over 2 months…I really needed to treat myself (though I'm not sure if an Filet O'Fish value meal from McDonald's can really be considered a treat). ALRIGHT…enough babble – on with what's important.
I attended the Student Strike Support Group last night. I think that I brought them an unique perspective as being both a student and a striker. There were so many supporters there that the tiny room that they were in was over crowded and we had to move to the chapel.
They are planning a rally tomorrow to take place at the Board of Regent's meeting. This is a public meeting, so they are planning a sit in. I know some interesting things will be happening behind the scenes, but I don't want to know about it, nor did I have any part in planning the rally as I have a code I have to follow as a striker or I could get fired.
Though I didn't help plan the event, I helped them market it. We broke into smaller groups and took aspects of the meeting. Our group found someone to make 4000 fliers for us and I volunteered to buy chalk so that the students could go write messages on the sidewalk directing people to the rally.
I got home after 10PM last night. Then I designed my shirt for today. It reads, "I paid good money to attend the University of Minnesota as a student… (and on the back) …It's time to be paid good money at the University of Minnesota as an employee." I finally got to bed some time after 1AM.
This morning I got to Strike HQ at 9AM. I brought the chalk for the students, but I was disappointed, because only one student showed up. I asked her if maybe she could recruit some of her friends. The girl that was in charge of the flyers brought those, and I took the remaining hour and a half before my picket shift to distribute those flyers to the picket captains.
My strike shift was from 11-3PM. People liked my shirt. I got a chance to chat with some of the students and hand out literature on the strike.
Some fellow strikers came over to chat with us later into the shift. I asked if they were causing trouble, because I overheard them say, "you don't call 911 for that," as I continued to pass out flyers. They said they were "trying to." Then I asked them about the fire trucks that were on campus twice today. He told me that someone was stuck in an elevator and they told them the wrong building, so the fire trucks had to come twice. They were saying that someone who had a cell phone must have called 911 instead of using the phone in the elevator.
That group of strikers also told of how they were on the Mall today causing all kinds of ruckus, and a little freshman came up to them and said, "I support you all and everything, but you need to keep it down out here, because we're all in class trying to study and the air conditioning is broken and they have the windows open." She was complaining to the wrong people. One of the persons in that group of picketers was a dispatcher for maintenance. Another person in the group responded back to her saying, "I'm sorry honey, but if you don't like it write to President Bruininks and ask him to give us a fair contract."
Throughout the day, area restaurants kept crossing the picket line to deliver food to the buildings on campus. Both Erberts and Gerberts and Burrito Loco did. We would put flyers on their cars as they ran inside. I wrote my union president to find out if we should do something about it, such as boycott them, she said instead of doing that, we should ask them for discounts and the use of their bathrooms… whatever…
I also wrote a letter to Bob Bruininks (the University president – little trivia…he was the first director for the National Center on University Outcomes – where I work now):
Dear President Bruininks,
Do you remember your words in the State of the University Address this April? You said, "It's a great time to learn and work at the University of Minnesota" You continued to describe this year as a period of "transformitive change," and that, "we share a genuine commitment to excellence."
Only a few seconds into your speech, you described the University as many things, including "caring." You continued to explain that the University of Minnesota cares deeply for issues from "health and education, economic growth, and the preservation of human dignity." The University, in your own words, "is expected to provide the knowledge and leadership the state needs to address them."
Do you still consider "faculty and staff essential in achieving your strategic goal?" Are we still "critical to fostering excellence; improving [the University's] stature; recruiting and retaining the best and brightest students; providing a distinctive educational experience; attracting research funding to the University; and garnering the attention of other world class scholars?" Or has something changed between April and now to alter how critical staff is to that goal?
Were you lying when you said that the "emphasis cannot be limited to compensation and support for new faculty - The U's human capital resides at every level of the organization, and [the University] is committed to professional development and support for everyone?"
You used the Northrop's inscription to further your agenda:
"The University of Minnesota
Founded in Faith that men are enabled by understanding
Dedicated to the advancement of learning and the search for truth
Devoted to the instruction of youth and the welfare of the state."
How can the University of Minnesota be dedicated to the "welfare of the state," if it's not even dedicated to the welfare of its very own technical, clerical, and medical workers?
Melissa [last name edited]
(an alumna, a striking University technical worker, and a current graduate student)
I also sent a blind copy of the email to the Minnesota Daily (the University newspaper). My father said I should have sent it to the local papers as well – I still might.
I have the day off tomorrow for an appointment, but you better believe that I'll be watching the news closely to see what happens at that rally – I'm predicting that it will be a show!
