Tufts University Students on Hunger Strike Upset With University Response
Students engaged in a hunger strike to protest janitorial layoffs have a new reason to be upset — the university is in no hurry to meet their “demands.”
WHDH reports:
Hunger striking students frustrated with university response
MEDFORD, Mass. (AP) – Tufts University students on a hunger strike over janitor layoffs say they’re frustrated at the university’s response.
Members of the student group the Tufts Labor Coalition say they met with university officials Tuesday as five hunger strikers living in tents on the campus green entered their third day without food.
They said the hunger strikers are experiencing physical weakness, but their commitment remains strong.
The student group said no agreement was reached, but the administration requested another meeting Wednesday.
The group wants the university to halt plans to lay off some 35 janitors in June until contract negotiations can begin next spring.
A Tufts spokeswoman says Executive Vice President Patricia Campbell and Vice President for Operations Linda Snyder met with students to request negotiations, but students did not agree to negotiations, instead agreeing to Wednesday’s meeting.
Nicole Joseph, a freshman who attended Tuesday’s meeting, expressed frustration with the administration’s response so far.
“It didn’t make sense: they expressed concern about ending the strike, but came to the meeting with no proposals or plans of negotiating to meet workers’ and students’ demands,” she said in a statement.
Comments
“Desperation”, by Relevance, is a stinky cologne. What’s next? A full temper tantrum? Running away from home?
Bobby Sands took some eight weeks to starve to death. Tufts has no particular reason to hurry.
I think it is time that those heroic students start a “dirty protest”. Summer is the perfect time for one. And eating any flies you attract does not violate the spirit of a hunger strike.
Let’s see. Some Tuft’s students are starving themselves so their University will not be cost efficient in providing janitorial services. Those same students, if they win this dispute, will probably be starving themselves next year over increases in tuition or in their college debt, resulting partly from the University paying too many janitors or paying too much for those services. Will these students link these two behaviors? It would seem these students need to take more economics classes. Meanwhile, Tufts should not give in to this type of blackmail. If these students want to go hungry, let them. If the university gives in on this, what other demands will be forthcoming?