At around 7PM today, all 17 of the students who have been participating in the sit-in for living wages at UVA were dragged by police officers from Madison Hall and arrested. This was the end of the fourth day of the sit-in. Students had been denied food during the sit-in, and after a grueling evening of negotiation with President Casteen that lasted until almost 4am, all their demands were denied during the day. They were informed that Casteen would be gone until Tuesday, and the arrests began after he left. To make matters worse, the food that was provided by students and faculty, that had finally been allowed inside Madison Hall late last night was with withheld from the students and thrown out after their arrest, much of it untouched or unopened. The Living Wage Team recovered this food and will take it to a local food pantry. President Casteen would rather put the physical and academic well-being of his students in jeopardy than consider paying decent wages to UVA workers. This is an outrage! Demand that President Casteen support living wages NOW.

Dear [ Decision Maker ] ,

I am deeply disturbed by the arrest of the 17 courageous University of Virginia students who took a stand in support of living wages for all of UVA's workers. I am also disturbed by your denial of food and access to internet for students who took that stand.

Forcing poverty wages on UVA workers is unacceptable. Rationing the students' food, rendering them unable to negotiate and think clearly is not an acceptable way to treat your students.

Stop acting in bad faith towards workers and students -- accept the living wage policy for UVA now!

Sincerely,

Campaign Launched:
April 16, 2006