Yale Undergraduate Organizing Committee

Next UOC meeting:

We're on summer break.

See you Wednesday, August 25th!

UOC joins Chemistry Prof. Connie Allen in fight for her job
This spring, UOC members have come together with former students of Chemistry Lecturer Connie Allen to fight alongside Dr. Allen for her job. Despite being a mentor to dozens of students, an excellent teacher, and one of the few black women faculty at Yale, especially in the sciences, Dr. Allen was told in December that her contract would not be renewed. Dozens of students have written letters, and on Apr. 29th, more than 20 students and employees walked in to the Provost's Office with Dr. Allen, demanding a meeting with an administrator. On May 6th, the students met with Deputy Provost of the Sciences and Technology Andrew Hamilton, who told students that "Yale does not appoint its ladder faculty based on student demands."

Dr. Allen, her students, the UOC, and other concerned members of the Yale-New Haven community are not backing down. Students have attempted twice to meet with President Levin. Dr. Allen is pursuing a departmental grievance procedure. Check back over the summer for updates. For more information about Dr. Allen and the fight for a diverse faculty, go here.

New Haven Student Fair Share Coalition demands fair share tax contribution
On Apr. 15th (Tax Day), the New Haven Student Fair Share Coalition, a growing alliance of 16 undergraduate organizations and supportive high school and graduate students, launched with a press conference outside Woodbridge Hall. Representatives from 13 Coalition organizations, including Marissa Levendis '07 from the UOC, spoke about why their organizations are asking Yale to pay a fair share tax contribution to New Haven. Following the press conference, representatives delivered to President Levin letters demanding a fair share contribution from 15 groups in the Coalition.

During Bulldog Days, Coalition members distributed fair share leaflets to prefrosh and their families.

On Apr. 20th, half of the member organizations voting at the Dwight Hall Cabinet meeting voted in favor of Dwight Hall signing on to the Fair Share Coalition, demonstrating widespread student support. UOC member Helena Herring '07 and State Rep. Bob Megna gave an inspiring presentation on behalf of the Fair Share Coalition. Many students from a range of organizations spoke in favor of fair share during the question-and-answer period.

Read more information about Yale's fair share tax contribution and the Fair Share Coalition.

In Other News...

Rally for Partnership
On Apr. 26th, the UOC several hundred Locals 34 and 35, District 1199, and GESO members; community members; professional students; and others for a rally on Beinecke Plaza around the theme of "Yale, why not work together?" Rebecca Livengood '07 spoke on behalf of the UOC, while everyone present completed a card for President Levin, "If Yale worked with us. . . Yale, why not work together?"

Investment Disclosure
This spring, the UOC joined the UnFarallon Coalition, calling on Yale to increase transparency regarding its investments in the socially and environmentally irresponsible hedge fund Farallon and to engage in dialogue with concerned students and community members. On Feb. 10th, UOC members joined students from a range of organizations in an attempt to deliver a letter requesting dialogue to Yale's Chief Investment Officer, David Swensen. The Investment Office was put in "secure mode" – elevators were shut down, police were called – and students were not allowed upstairs to deliver the letter. On Apr. 2nd, UOC members addressed their concerns to Swenson, in person, at the meeting of the Advisory Committee on Investor Responsibility.

On Mar. 3rd, UOC members participated in street theatre in front of Yale's Investment Office, protesting the environmentally disastrous Baca Ranch investment (photos). On Apr. 16th, UOC members and a broad coalition of Yale students joined individuals on 70 campuses across the country for a national Day of Action against Farallon. The tongue-in-cheek group Yale SHAME (StakeHolders for Aggressive Management of the Endowment) acted out what would happen, were Farallon's unconscionable investment strategies employed on Yale's campus (photos). Investment research will continue over the summer.

Check out the site of the national campaign against Farallon.

For older news, go here.

Site Contents

About the UOC – A brief description of the group, what we do, and how we go about it.
History – A short summary of the story so far, focusing on how and why the Yale campus has arrived at this point of crisis.
The Strike – Information for students on last fall's strike of 4,000 Yale workers.
Yale 101 – Some basic background on work and town-gown relations at Yale. Also includes discussion of the UOC’s work in related issues outside the labor conflict.
Press and Documents – Includes photos, press clippings, and editorials; and reports and publications by the UOC and other organizations.
Links
Contact

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