Students continue protests of alleged workplace abuse

For some students, the first football game was a chance to don their Terps gear and tailgate. But for about a dozen student activists, it was time to take a stand against reports of alleged workplace abuse at this university.

Students in the newly formed Justice at Maryland: Fight UMD Worker Abuse coalition gathered around the "M" traffic circle yesterday afternoon, ready to be seen and heard. As a steady stream of cars drove through the campus to attend yesterday's game vs. Miami, the students chanted, cheered and shook bottles of popcorn kernels at passersby to show officials and students they won't let reports of alleged workplace abuse continue without a fight.

"Students don't yet know all about workers' issues, but I'm optimistic that they will," said junior American studies and government and politics major Jack Izen. "We are putting a lot of effort into outreach this year. We are making ourselves visible at events and gathering workers to talk about bad experiences."

Officially established at the end of the summer, Justice at Maryland: Fight UMD Worker Abuse is a growing coalition of students and faculty committed to seeing that the investigation of an anonymous letter comparing the environment in the university's Campus Projects department to a "labor camp" continues — and quickly. Multiple forums have been held for employees to give reports of alleged abuse, and in May the university's Black Faculty and Staff Association presented a 56-page report that highlighted grievances to university President Wallace Loh.

The group — comprising students, staff and alumni from the American Indian Student Union, the BFSA, the Black Student Union, Feminism Without Borders and members of the community — has begun to plan events and strategies to inform the university community of their plight and keep an eye on workers.

The organization plans to hold more forums where workers can feel comfortable voicing their concerns, reach out to freshmen at different events on the campus and ask alumni to put pressure on university officials. Additionally, the coalition has formed an "a.m. crew" that will walk through academic buildings at 4:30 a.m. to provide company for isolated workers.

"We talk to workers if we can, and leave out leaflets or fliers for when the next forum is coming up," said sophomore studio art major Diana Daisey, who coordinates the excursions. "The hardest part is that relationships can't happen overnight, but we are trying."

The coalition's official formation comes at a time when university organizations — such as the University Senate — are keeping tabs on the situation, which has seen a growing number of incident reports since the first accusation surfaced in March.

"The senate is keeping a very close eye on the situation, and are carefully reviewing all concerns of every constituent on campus," said Senate Chair Eric Kasischke.

Members are awaiting word from administrators on their investigation of the alleged abuse and assault and were told they would be "kept abreast and in the loop" concerning the situation, said Solomon Comissiong, Nyumburu Cultural Center assistant director and BFSA president.

"We just can't come to work and know these things are going on without being affected," he said. "We want to see a better campus, and I feel like the requests we made could easily be implemented by yesterday."

romas at umdbk dot com