Early Thursday morning student members of the Worker Support Committee seized Pitzer’s Broad Center, which houses the administrative offices for the college, and sealed all entrances to the building.

The group, estimated at 10-15 people, used chains, padlocks, u-locks, rope and poles to lock themselves in and administrators out with the goal of convincing the Five College Council of Presidents to pressure Ararmark into signing a non-intimidation/neutrality agreement.

By 10:00 a.m. Pitzer President Marlyn Massey, through her assistant Jim Mairchant, informed the building’s new occupants that while she supports workers’ rights to organize, she and the other presidents cannot force Aramark to sign the agreement.

In turn, the students made clear they would not evacuate their new found residence anytime soon.

Matthew Preusch Tobiah Gaster '03 seals windows and doors inside Pitzer's Broad Center.

"Basically, we’re not leaving until we negotiate what we want," said a Scripps student identifying herself as Cloe from inside the building after receiving the initial word of Massey’s statement.

The group entered the building from the west side around 7 a.m. after waiting in the driveway, posing as if they were going camping. One female student approached maintenance workers in the building and lured them outside by appearing lost. Once the workers were outside the students rushed in and secured the doors.

By all reports it was a peaceful occupation, and according to Campus Safety Office John Teuber will likely remain that way. Teuber said the presidents will dictate the course of action through Campus Safety, and no law enforcement will be called.

After locking the doors the students sealed the windows with sheets and signs, hoping to conceal their identity.

The only confirmed participants in the occupation are Michael Flynn ’02, Tobiah Gaster ‘03 and Matt Gearhart (leave); however, a group of supporters outside Broad Center spent the morning contacting media, relaying messages from Massey and handing out committee literature.

By mid-morning protestors were holding most of the cards, as some professors and administrators had to bargain their way to retrieving files from their desks.

Dan Siegel, a professor of anthropology at Pitzer, haggled with one of the "support team" members, Amy Wood ’00. Siegel said he is holding a conference in the Broad Center Friday, and needed access.

Siegel offered to hang a banner damning Aramark’s labor practices on the podium at his conference, but warned the committee that they were barking up the wrong tree.

"Given free choice, [Massey] would be providing much better conditions for the workers," said Siegel. He believes that despite her position as chair of the council of presidents, Massey’s sway in that body is relatively small.

"It’s not a democracy," he said "Your vote counts more if you have a bigger endowment."

"They should have taken over Scripps’ building," he added.

Nina Mason, a spokesperson for Pitzer, said Massey’s arms are further tied by legal constraints. Because Aramark is contracted out by the colleges for food service, the college cannot muscle the company into changing its labor practices, she said.

"It’s Aramark who should be answering these questions," said Mason, suggesting that the protestors should be occupying the national company’s corporate offices.

Harvey Mudd College President Jon Strauss agreed.

"The issue really comes down to whether we interfere with the contracts, because if we do that, we become co-employers under the law."

He said at that point they are responsible for Aramark’s treatment of its workers. Some think sub-contracting unfairly absolves the college from concerning itself with the treatment of the workers that serve their food.

"That’s the harsher side of it. The other side is [that this controls] costs for students and their families," said Strauss.

Committee members involved in the current action say their resolve is strengthened by almost two years of fighting the same fight with the presidents and Aramark. Occupying Broad, they say, will be a way to force action.

"[Massey’s] answers have not changed, but our action has definitely changed," said Cloe.

Stefan Judelman PI ‘OO is one of the support crew, one of the four "teams" that the committee divided into for the occupation. Other teams coordinating media contact and handing out pamphlets, meanwhile the main team is remaining inside Broad until they are satisfied with the results.

"It could be a very long wait for the people inside," said Pria Diaz PI ’03, who spent the morning e-mailing press releases to news outlets.

One of the committee’s demands, according to Andy Beetley-Hagler PI ’02, is zero retribution for the students occupying Broad, students who he says "are prepared for any kind of moves that the presidents or establishment will revert to."

Judelman, for one, believes that Massey will eventually agree to pressure Aramark to sign the neutrality agreement.

"A socially responsible institution should be the first to step up," he said.