jesse jackson will be here.
i hate to sound like a political activist because i neither possess the strategic enthusiasm nor comprehensive eloquence to argue over the labyrinth of (actually) a basic problem. i write because the issue at hand is of pressing matter and requires immediate attention from some of the big-wigs here in this administration. of course, this does not mean that they will be reading my blog, but i just want to satisfy my hunger as a pseudo editorial-columnist.
there will be a strike for all of next week from locals 34s and 35s--a union group comprised of potentially three thousand employees, where some, i might add, have not been on contract for the past year. for the past 15 years--yes, that is a decade and a half--the administrative system here has done everything possible to avoid unions, to maintain the elitist attiude of fending off what they considered as wrong. wrong? how can they be so narrow-minded and live in a world that is literally so many decades behind? have we forgotten the ideological principles of what America is about? what are rights? unfortunately this has been going on too long, and the upsetting thing is that negotiations are far from reaching a compromise. strikes are starting on monday and professors who are pro-union have decided to cancel class---with the intention, figuratively, of staying behind the "picket line." the cancellation of classes serve as a symbolic message to the administration that the system is faltering and that people here are affected. in fact, there may be a possibility that if we "do cross" the picket line, literally, we'd be labelled as "scabs." such a political campaign is very new to the sheltered subsurbian girl in me, and i must say that i have very little experience even remotely close to such actions. however, a rally will start on monday evening headed by jesse jackson. yes, you read that correctly. it's going to be big.
i'm neither pro or anti-strike, and i will lean in favor of the unions if you asked me for an answer. however, without really taking a stand, objectively speaking, i am offended. the vulnerable population is at risk...and that population happens to be the students. cancelling class is often something an overwhelmed student such as myself would call as a treat...extra hours for me to get some beauty-rest. but at the same time, this can happen for a very long time. the strike lands on the week before spring break...that's a week of midterms and papers and crucial teaching hours that may critically affect the outcome of this semester. the political strategy behind it is just so perfect. but at the same time, students can do nothing about it. the conflicts between the union and the administration surface at the expense of the vulnerable population. do we get money back? do we get extra loans? do we get extra hours of instruction? what does this all mean to us?
when i say a strike, a lot of activities, accommodations, and services will be affected. living in the dorms--as a school-facility--i won't even have food for the next week. granted that i never really enjoyed cafeteria food in the first place, but i am working hard to pay off these loans, and sticking to a measly budget of momma-sent-care-packages of dried foods (and maybe treats of pocky sticks once in a while). okay, so maybe i do splurge on a few pints of ice cream here and there, but that's only because my friends spoil me! unfortunately, the students have become the non-visible players in this game of truth or dare. and yet, they will never win. as much as i love this place, i also find it her responsibility to reach equal footing for the union members. yes, very much necessary. fine, enough of my feeble attempt to sound socially justified. they never asked for my opinion in the first place. i'm just a student.
i hate to sound like a political activist because i neither possess the strategic enthusiasm nor comprehensive eloquence to argue over the labyrinth of (actually) a basic problem. i write because the issue at hand is of pressing matter and requires immediate attention from some of the big-wigs here in this administration. of course, this does not mean that they will be reading my blog, but i just want to satisfy my hunger as a pseudo editorial-columnist.
there will be a strike for all of next week from locals 34s and 35s--a union group comprised of potentially three thousand employees, where some, i might add, have not been on contract for the past year. for the past 15 years--yes, that is a decade and a half--the administrative system here has done everything possible to avoid unions, to maintain the elitist attiude of fending off what they considered as wrong. wrong? how can they be so narrow-minded and live in a world that is literally so many decades behind? have we forgotten the ideological principles of what America is about? what are rights? unfortunately this has been going on too long, and the upsetting thing is that negotiations are far from reaching a compromise. strikes are starting on monday and professors who are pro-union have decided to cancel class---with the intention, figuratively, of staying behind the "picket line." the cancellation of classes serve as a symbolic message to the administration that the system is faltering and that people here are affected. in fact, there may be a possibility that if we "do cross" the picket line, literally, we'd be labelled as "scabs." such a political campaign is very new to the sheltered subsurbian girl in me, and i must say that i have very little experience even remotely close to such actions. however, a rally will start on monday evening headed by jesse jackson. yes, you read that correctly. it's going to be big.
i'm neither pro or anti-strike, and i will lean in favor of the unions if you asked me for an answer. however, without really taking a stand, objectively speaking, i am offended. the vulnerable population is at risk...and that population happens to be the students. cancelling class is often something an overwhelmed student such as myself would call as a treat...extra hours for me to get some beauty-rest. but at the same time, this can happen for a very long time. the strike lands on the week before spring break...that's a week of midterms and papers and crucial teaching hours that may critically affect the outcome of this semester. the political strategy behind it is just so perfect. but at the same time, students can do nothing about it. the conflicts between the union and the administration surface at the expense of the vulnerable population. do we get money back? do we get extra loans? do we get extra hours of instruction? what does this all mean to us?
when i say a strike, a lot of activities, accommodations, and services will be affected. living in the dorms--as a school-facility--i won't even have food for the next week. granted that i never really enjoyed cafeteria food in the first place, but i am working hard to pay off these loans, and sticking to a measly budget of momma-sent-care-packages of dried foods (and maybe treats of pocky sticks once in a while). okay, so maybe i do splurge on a few pints of ice cream here and there, but that's only because my friends spoil me! unfortunately, the students have become the non-visible players in this game of truth or dare. and yet, they will never win. as much as i love this place, i also find it her responsibility to reach equal footing for the union members. yes, very much necessary. fine, enough of my feeble attempt to sound socially justified. they never asked for my opinion in the first place. i'm just a student.
