Jun
2
From April 25, 2011, through June 1, 2011, three universities made 71 student arrests instead of respecting students’ free speech and taking meaningful action to confront Sodexo’s worker rights abuses. In each case, students had attempted to resolve the issues through all other channels, and felt forced to resort to nonviolent direct action. Students at dozens of other U.S. universities have also been campaigning to kick out Sodexo, and will continue to turn up the heat. Here’s the run-down, with links to news articles:
April 25, Emory University: Emory University in Atlanta arrests 7 students to shut down a peaceful “tent city” protesting the university’s contract with Sodexo, just days after Emory police removed dozens of students from a peaceful sit-in at President James Wagner’s office.
May 11, University of Washington: University of Washington arrests 27 students staging a peaceful sit-in at the office of President Phyllis Wise to demand she finally terminate the university’s contract with Sodexo.
May 19, University of Washington: University of Washington arrests 13 more students occupying the office of Athletics Director Scott Woodward to urge an end to that department’s stadium concessions contract with Sodexo.
May 23, Ohio State University: Ohio State arrests 9 students during a nonviolent sit-in at President Gordon Gee’s office to end Sodexo’s contract with OSU’s controversy-plagued Athletics department.
June 1, University of Washington: University of Washington arrests 15 students during a sit-in at the admissions office to once again demand the university end its contract with Sodexo.
Stay tuned – the action will only be growing larger, broader and stronger!
