Editor,

We participated in the Worker Support Committee sleepover in front of President Stanley’s house on Thursday, April 15. After reading the letter he wrote in response the next day, we were concerned about several erroneous statements and misperceptions it contained. We have been following the WSC’s actions this year and feel that the group was unfairly treated in Mr. Stanley’s letter. We were hurt, saddened, and a bit shocked by the letter, because–although we believe that Aramark workers have really suffered this year–we do not ever intend to partake in the activities alleged by Mr. Stanley, and certainly did not do so Thursday night. The six of us would like to tell you what actually happened outside the President’s house that evening.

After a rally at Pitzer College, students went to the residences of all five college presidents to deliver an envelope containing copies of the proposed Non-Intimidation Agreement and letters written by workers discussing their concerns about Aramark. We found Campus Security officers posted in front of Mr. Stanley’s house, who informed us that anyone attempting to deliver the letter would have to be arrested for trespassing. Either we or a campus security officer would be allowed to deliver the letter during business hours. We chanted "Worker recognition: Support the petition!" and several Aramark workers spoke about their concerns. One phone call was made by the group between 10 and 11, asking for President Stanley to come outside and take the letter. We then chanted, "Check your messages!" Individuals not in front of the house may have left messages after this, but these were not actions of the group. Individuals also made several comments using swear words, but these words were not directed at Mr. Stanley himself. If he heard these statement, he certainly heard our requests to be allowed to deliver the letter. As a group, the most "off-color" statement made was "Hell no, we won’t go." At NO TIME were we angry or belligerent, "aggressive, abusive or obscene" [a quotation from Stanley’s letter]. All of the above activity occurred before 11:00 pm. Most of the group left at this time. However, about 25 students decided to stay on the sidewalk in front of the house until we were allowed to deliver the envelope, as we felt that denying us the right to place a letter on a doorstep was an unjustified overreaction.

Throughout the night, as guards changed shifts, we asked what our legal rights were, and made sure to stay within them. We asked what our options were, specifically whether one person or a security guard could deliver the letter.

We camped out in sleeping bags, lit candles and ate graham crackers. We sang folk songs, laughed, talked, tangoed down the sidewalk a few times, and offered muffins and cookies to the security guards, who were posted outside the house the entire time that we were there. We were noisier than your average Claremont resident, but quieter than your average group of Friday night Pomona students. Numerous times, students expressed concerns that we might receive a noise complaint, and thus we controlled our volume. If we had received a noise complaint at any point, we would have willingly quieted down. Friday morning we talked to the posted guard, who eventually called his superiors and received permission to place our envelope on the porch for us. He did so at about 7:30 am; we clapped, cheered, picked up our belongings and trash, and then dispersed.

We are mortified that President Stanley felt threatened at any point by our distinctly pacifist gathering. He was within his legal right, as a property owner, in denying us access to his doorstep, and we really are sorry that we caused him and his family such distress. However, the workers’ situation is becoming desperate. In three weeks we will all go home, and Aramark’s one-year agreement not to fire any workers will expire. The Workers’ Support Committee is not asking for the Presidents to illegally force Aramark to allow students or anyone else "unionize" the workers. It is simply asking them to use their right, as consumers, to make non-intimidation part of Aramark’s contract. Non-intimidation is the condition in which workers can discuss improving their situation, during breaks, without feeling their job security threatened. Workers could then vote, without intimidation, whether to be represented by a union. We rarely get so concerned about campus events but this is crucial! As a novice student organization, WSC actions may not always be perfect, but we are thoroughly convinced that their intentions are sincere and justified. Change is difficult, and it sometimes does not permit eight hours of quiet sleep.

Sincerely,

Arielle Cooley ’01

Claire Bergen ’01

Sonia Barre ’01

Nicola Wood ’01

Anulkah Thomas ’01