Olivia Vaughn, better known to last year's residents of Gilbert-Addoms Dormitory as "Miss O," was fired last year on the 89th day of her 90-day probationary job period, a not-so-uncommon yet rather disturbing occurrence. Miss O had formed close relationships with many residents of GA, and they would not let this decision stand. After a great amount of petitioning and pressure on the part of GA residents and others outraged by this move-including about 50 people sitting in President Brodhead's office until he agreed to have her case reviewed-Miss O got her job back.
Johnnie Hudson was not so lucky. A former employee of Duke Athletics, he was fired last year after a review citing his poor work performance. Although a public assembly was held in front of the Allen Building and supporters wrote memos and signed petitions to save his job, he was not re-hired. While searching for a new job, Hudson did not have enough money to pay for his insulin; complications from diabetes required a leg amputation from the knee down shortly after his termination.
Though discussion about Counseling and Psychological Services dominated DSG's meeting Wednesday, political science graduate student David Rice and professor Rom Coles gave a presentation about Duke Organizing, a group concerned with improving working conditions for Duke employees.
And they're not necessarily talking about your Econ or PubPol professor when they say "employees."
They are taking a stand to represent the Olivia Vaughns and Johnnie Hudsons of Duke. They are working for those people who mop our floors, clean our facilities and feed us every day, and I applaud them for it.
I live in Alspaugh this year. Almost every morning I see Don; he's a housekeeper there. On the mornings I don't happen to see Don, I notice his absence. He's cheerful and fun, interested in how I'm doing and how life's going.
I tend to frequent Chick-fil-A, particularly on those days that aren't going so well. No, chicken nuggets and waffle fries aren't my solution to a bad day: the Chick-fil-A ladies are-those happy, charming women who ring up my order, bag my food and wish me well without fail.
There's also that guy who takes care of the beverage station at the Marketplace. I'm sorry to say I don't know his name, but I know he sings sometimes. I know he always makes sure I have a cup for my drink. I know that he will refill the hot chocolate packets that I look forward to on chilly evenings, and I appreciate him for it.
It's for these people that Duke Organizing exists.
"Duke Organizing has always been committed to relational work with employees, and as we move into next semester we are renewing that commitment with plans to step up small meetings in academic departments and dorms between students, faculty and non-faculty employees," Rice said.
Duke Organizing is having conversations with higher-ups, and they are having conversations with housekeepers. There is no question that there is a great socioeconomic and even racial split between Duke students and employees. Duke Organizing is out to improve relations with and make conditions better for these employees to lessen that divide.
Although DSG Public Relations Director Kevin Troy worried that Duke Organizing is "an instance of the privileged speaking for the powerless," Rice and Coles assured DSG that they are trying to get employees to have their own voices. They realize, however, that the reason many employees do not speak up is the fear of being written up or even fired.
I can't say that I see anything wrong with Duke Organizing's concept. An active group trying to make conditions better for people we encounter every day and trying to help us all get along; they get two thumbs up in my book.
DSG Community Liaison Daniel Bowes commented that he wished it was not such a "fringe group"-it's not very well known and undergraduate involvement fluctuates greatly. I encourage everyone to keep an eye out for Duke Organizing and what they have to say. In the past year, a lot of people have spent time pointing out Duke's problems. Duke Organizing is actually doing something about them.
Allie Vergotz is a Trinity freshman. Her column runs every other Friday.
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