Report Back: Alum Speaks at ASC Faculty Meeting March 27, 2008

Hey everyone! I went to the faculty meeting and after Dr. Guthrie gave his presentation I spoke for a few minutes and this is what I had written (I think I may have added a few things here and there):

I have been asked to speak about why as alumnae we have been involved in the Living Wage Campaign at Agnes Scott and frankly I have a hard time understanding why we would not. Really I have difficulty understanding how ANY member of the Agnes Scott Community can remain uninvolved. We alums are all busy with work and some with law school, med school, other graduate studies—-some have started families and have babies. Alums living all around the world are involved in this campaign.

I believe that it is the strong sense of HONOR and virtue instilled upon us as students that drives us in many things we do and caring about the community that helped support us during our time here remains part of that. We find it deplorable that your co-workers —-that is what they are, your co-workers—- must struggle to put food on their tables in spite of having worked and worked hard here at Agnes Scott for 10, 20 and even 40 years.

The school is growing—- with more students and buildings—- we find it unacceptable to know for example that one woman cleans the library, the first floors of Main and Rebekah as well as the Public Safety building, on days when her work buddy is out her work increases. Additionally the work she as a custodian does is classified as unskilled labor; while SHE strips the floors and maintains them MEN who do the walls are classified as skilled workers.

You can read more about this and other concerns of the SEXISM/ RACISM and severe CLASSISM experienced by your co-workers on our blog. Taking second and sometimes third jobs, relying on government programs is not what your co-workers should be forced to do to feed and house themselves and their families. To know that one woman has to rely on her lunch in Evans or at Mollies as her main meal so that she can feed her children a healthy dinner at night while she makes do by heating up pork rinds with ketchup or hot sauce for her dinner—- that’s not right and it violates the honor code to say the least.

In this political season we hear candidates talking about what they will do to help fight poverty in America. Well this is poverty here—- not just in GA and not just in Atlanta or Decatur but poverty at Agnes Scott—- poverty as the RESULT of low wages paid to those responsible for the beauty which makes this campus known. We as alums can no longer contribute to our alma mater in good faith knowing that our college—- a not for profit institution is in some ways no better than corporate monsters like Wal-Mart.

I asked for questions after speaking and informed everyone that the contact emails and blog site were on poster at a back table. I was asked no questions and Helen Cox who is a student offered some information and invited participation. President Kiss then came to the podium and said that Agnes Scott paid higher wages than most of the colleges in the area except Columbia Sem. and that ASC is on about the same level as they are and that ASC was not such a monster as Wal-Mart. She stated that the college had figures that vary slightly from what we have and that this will be a discussion we must continue.

So one thing I think might be interesting is figuring out how much employees of Wal-Mart make.

Also, this evening I got a call from a student asking for a donation to the school. She said that she had heard of the LWC and had friends involved so I encouraged her to get involved as well. I informed her that I could not give to ASC so long as the goals of the LWC continued to go unmet and that I planned to encourage all alumnae to abstain from giving. She said that she could understand but that the students were most important and could make benefit from the money. I asked her to please make a note of my concerns and of our Alumnae group working with students, faculty and staff.

I was polite mind you—- I know this girl is trying to make a little extra cash but I made my point, encouraged her to get involved and also asked about her classes etc. so maybe she’d be a little inclined to pass on the message and all. She said she would still go ahead and send me a package so that in case things changed I could give. Another prepaid envelope!

Leigh