A Student & Worker's Response

The past several months we have seen some of the most fatal flaws in American society. Thousands are dead from COVID-19, Millions are out of work and are even more at risk due to loss of income and healthcare through their jobs. Millions have taken to the streets to protest the lynchings of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor and Ahmaud Arbery. Everyday people across this country worry about how they are going to make ends meet. These are in no way new issues, but there is a gross irony in the fact that institutions, corporations, and our government are still putting profit over people during these difficult times in our nation. But as these problems disproportionately affect Black, Brown and working class communities, it is not surprising there is a lack of urgency from our leaders. The University of Virginia is no exception to this injustice, we have even watched them be a part of the problem. We have watched the university hoard wealth for more clout. We have watched UVA give legacy applicants an advantage in the admissions process because Alumni are more likely to give, if their kids get into UVA too. We have watched the University work in partnership with the predatory company Aramark which consistently puts their workers at risk and pay them starvation wages. The University has watched students and workers struggle for decades ; it seems like Jim Ryan and the Board of Visitors do not care. The University wants us to believe that the only way it can function and sustain itself is by the grace of big donors and a massive endowment. Yet, the university was built on the backs of Black enslaved labourers, and functions because of contracted workers. It functions because of graduate student TAs. This University functions because workers and students show up everyday and work.

We, The Young Democractic Socialists of America are calling for our demands to be met in order to protect students and workers at this University. We are tired of begging. We are tired of signing petitions and letters to the administration. We are tired of committees and meetings. We are tired of excuses. Inaction and complacency during this time is criminal. We are no longer willing to wait for change, we need action and substantive change at the University now.

In solidarity,

Sarandon Elliott