City
Student Arrested by UW in Sodexo Protests Wins UW Academic Award
As we noted in this Morning's Fizz, the University of Washington arrested 13 students after the group of protesters staged a second sit-in yesterday afternoon (this one at the athletics department) to protest the school's concessions contract with food service company Sodexo. (The company is the target of a union campaign for alleged human and labor rights abuses
.)
The Seattle Times has a rundown of last night's sit in here.
Last week, the Kick Out Sodexo Coalition staged their initial sit in at interim president Phyllis Wise's office—where 27 students were arrested.[pullquote]"But I hope that this award following my arrest helps her understand that this is a broad-based student movement, that all of us have done our research, and that students care deeply about making our university a more ethical institution by terminating our business relationship with Sodexo."[/pullquote]
One of the students arrested (at both sit ins) was UW graduating senior Garrett Strain. This morning, fortuitously enough for the protesters, Strain was the recipient of an Arts & Sciences Dean's Medal—something he learned of only twelve hours after being arrested by the university police.
The prestigious medal is awarded to only one social science graduate. Four students in the entire Arts & Sciences school are awarded the medal, which is determine based on GPA, course rigor, and professor recommendations.
Speaking to his award and UW's Sodexo contract, Strain told us: "President Wise has tried to frame the movement against Sodexo as somehow marginal or fringe. But I hope that this award following my arrest helps her understand that this is a broad-based student movement, that all of us have done our research, and that students care deeply about making our university a more ethical institution by terminating our business relationship with Sodexo."
It's unclear whether Wise herself—who the anti-Sodexo coalition has made the bad guy in their fight to cut the UW's $3.4 million contract —will bestow the honor on Strain, an anti-Sodexo student leader, at June's graduation ceremony.
The Seattle Times has a rundown of last night's sit in here.
Last week, the Kick Out Sodexo Coalition staged their initial sit in at interim president Phyllis Wise's office—where 27 students were arrested.[pullquote]"But I hope that this award following my arrest helps her understand that this is a broad-based student movement, that all of us have done our research, and that students care deeply about making our university a more ethical institution by terminating our business relationship with Sodexo."[/pullquote]
One of the students arrested (at both sit ins) was UW graduating senior Garrett Strain. This morning, fortuitously enough for the protesters, Strain was the recipient of an Arts & Sciences Dean's Medal—something he learned of only twelve hours after being arrested by the university police.
The prestigious medal is awarded to only one social science graduate. Four students in the entire Arts & Sciences school are awarded the medal, which is determine based on GPA, course rigor, and professor recommendations.
Speaking to his award and UW's Sodexo contract, Strain told us: "President Wise has tried to frame the movement against Sodexo as somehow marginal or fringe. But I hope that this award following my arrest helps her understand that this is a broad-based student movement, that all of us have done our research, and that students care deeply about making our university a more ethical institution by terminating our business relationship with Sodexo."
It's unclear whether Wise herself—who the anti-Sodexo coalition has made the bad guy in their fight to cut the UW's $3.4 million contract —will bestow the honor on Strain, an anti-Sodexo student leader, at June's graduation ceremony.
