Hey all you loyal readers. The last half of the cited group are going in to plead Tuesday morning around 9am. Nice and early. We want to thank out attorney for his unending help and inspiration. Props to you, Craig. Our last meeting of the semester is taking place Tuesday, at 7pm in the Board Room on the 3rd floor of the University Center. I hope to see you all there! We are looking to talk to some kids at the 3 local high schools later this week to get the young'uns excited about social change and responsibility. Want to help out? see you Tuesday! SESJ dance party to follow sometime this week; we'll keep you updated.
P.S. I happen to be on my bro's computer and he's got Sweatshop Union rolling out of the speakers. Word.
Monday, May 5, 2008
Friday, May 2, 2008
Free Speech Riots
Tonight, Friday, May 2, the Missoula chapter of the International Workers of the World (aka the Wobblies) are hosting a re-enactment of the free speech riots. There will constant (hopefully) spouting on the corner of Front and Higgins, in front of the Florence Hotel. Please come and say whatever you want people to hear. It's time to re-create a viable public space of communication!
Monday, April 28, 2008
University overstepping?
On Friday, the mailboxes of our 8 students who were involved in the sit-in received letters informing them that they faced disciplinary probation. Fair enough. Individual meetings were arbitrarily set up for Tuesday for the students with seemingly little regard for their time schedules. If a student wished to have legal counsel present, that student had to inform the Dean at least 3 business days before the meeting (if you don't want to do the math, this means they had until Friday, when the letters were received.) On Saturday, a secondary letter arrived informing the students that Dean Couture is actually considering a year-long suspension.
The University of Montana is billed as a liberal art university. We are taught in our classes to be critical thinkers and act on what we believe to be the moral high ground. Now we are being punished, possible quite severely, for being the minority group of students who 1. care about something passionately and 2.have the motivation to do something about it. I suppose it does pay to be apathetic, 'eh?
Dean of Students Couture can be reached at 406-243-6413
If you were under the impression that universities were suppose to encourage independent thought and action, or you happen to be a little bit pissed off that year-long suspension is on the horizon, please call him today and let him know.
We are also encouraging supporters to write letters to the editor to the Missoulian, the Independent, or any other paper.
Missoulian: http://missoulian.com/opedform/
Independent: www.missoulanews.com
Peace!
The University of Montana is billed as a liberal art university. We are taught in our classes to be critical thinkers and act on what we believe to be the moral high ground. Now we are being punished, possible quite severely, for being the minority group of students who 1. care about something passionately and 2.have the motivation to do something about it. I suppose it does pay to be apathetic, 'eh?
Dean of Students Couture can be reached at 406-243-6413
If you were under the impression that universities were suppose to encourage independent thought and action, or you happen to be a little bit pissed off that year-long suspension is on the horizon, please call him today and let him know.
We are also encouraging supporters to write letters to the editor to the Missoulian, the Independent, or any other paper.
Missoulian: http://missoulian.com/opedform/
Independent: www.missoulanews.com
Peace!
Thursday, April 24, 2008
Tuesday's Meeting
Hey all you wonderful rights-lovin, people-supportin, hard-workin peeps!
Our next meeting is going to held at 6pm (as opposed to the normal 7) in the Board Room on the 3rd floor of the UC. Please come and help us plan and mobilize towards the end of the semester.
At 7pm, this Tuesday (the 29th), a peace activist named Brian Terrel from Iowa is coming to speak on the "Criminalization of Dissent." This will be heldin the Castle Room at the UM Law School. (sorry, I don't have specific directions and will be hunting for it, too) SESJ members will be attending (hence the changed meeting time) and will see you there!
Our next meeting is going to held at 6pm (as opposed to the normal 7) in the Board Room on the 3rd floor of the UC. Please come and help us plan and mobilize towards the end of the semester.
At 7pm, this Tuesday (the 29th), a peace activist named Brian Terrel from Iowa is coming to speak on the "Criminalization of Dissent." This will be heldin the Castle Room at the UM Law School. (sorry, I don't have specific directions and will be hunting for it, too) SESJ members will be attending (hence the changed meeting time) and will see you there!
Contact State Officials!
Since George Dennison gave a reverberating 'no' yesterday in one of the most unsatisfactory, rudely run meetings we've ever been to, we are asking supporters to contact our state officials. Please call, write, fax, and email Governor Brian Schweitzer and let him know about the situation. Would not hurt to contact Senator Tester, either! Contact information at the end of this blog.
Some good things to mention:
- The Designated Suppliers Program, once implemented, would ensure that our university apparel (anything with the Griz logo on it) would be purchased from certified factories that provide workers with a living wage, the right to organize, and other basic workers' rights.
-'The Designated Suppliers Program (DSP) is a comprehensive program for enhancing the enforcement of university codes of conduct. The DSP has been endorsed in principle by a substantial and growing number of universities, and is under active consideration by many others.'
--Students have been meeting with University of Montana-Missoula officials for 2 years asking them to sign a conditional letter of support for the Designated Suppliers Program
--A conditional letter of support would enable us to become part of the working group to ensure that DSP is acturally implemented and works for our university.
--Worker's lives are in jeopardy every day the program is not implemented.
--A 6 hour sit-in occured 4/16/08 in President Dennison's office before 9 people were arrested. The University has chosen to press charges of trespassing and disorderly conduct.
--Please add any personal commentary you feel necessary. Make it real and heart felt!
Governor Brian D. Schweitzer
Office of the Governor
Montana State Capitol Bldg.
P.O. Box 200801
Helena MT 59620-0801
(406) 444-3111
FAX (406) 444-5529
Contact Information
Web Site: governor.mt.gov
E-mail: governor@mt.gov
Lieutenant Governor John Bohlinger
Office of the Lt. Governor
Montana State Capitol Bldg.
PO Box 200801
Helena, MT 59620-1901
(406) 444-3111, FAX (406) 444-4648
Link to email Senator Tester:
http://tester.senate.gov/Contact/index.cfm
Missoula office:
130 W Front Street
Missoula, MT 59802
Phone: (406) 728-3003
Fax: (406) 728-2193
Washington office:
Washington, D.C.
204 Russell Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510-2604
Phone: (202) 224-2644
Fax: (202) 224-8594
Some good things to mention:
- The Designated Suppliers Program, once implemented, would ensure that our university apparel (anything with the Griz logo on it) would be purchased from certified factories that provide workers with a living wage, the right to organize, and other basic workers' rights.
-'The Designated Suppliers Program (DSP) is a comprehensive program for enhancing the enforcement of university codes of conduct. The DSP has been endorsed in principle by a substantial and growing number of universities, and is under active consideration by many others.'
--Students have been meeting with University of Montana-Missoula officials for 2 years asking them to sign a conditional letter of support for the Designated Suppliers Program
--A conditional letter of support would enable us to become part of the working group to ensure that DSP is acturally implemented and works for our university.
--Worker's lives are in jeopardy every day the program is not implemented.
--A 6 hour sit-in occured 4/16/08 in President Dennison's office before 9 people were arrested. The University has chosen to press charges of trespassing and disorderly conduct.
--Please add any personal commentary you feel necessary. Make it real and heart felt!
Governor Brian D. Schweitzer
Office of the Governor
Montana State Capitol Bldg.
P.O. Box 200801
Helena MT 59620-0801
(406) 444-3111
FAX (406) 444-5529
Contact Information
Web Site: governor.mt.gov
E-mail: governor@mt.gov
Lieutenant Governor John Bohlinger
Office of the Lt. Governor
Montana State Capitol Bldg.
PO Box 200801
Helena, MT 59620-1901
(406) 444-3111, FAX (406) 444-4648
Link to email Senator Tester:
http://tester.senate.gov/Contact/index.cfm
Missoula office:
130 W Front Street
Missoula, MT 59802
Phone: (406) 728-3003
Fax: (406) 728-2193
Washington office:
Washington, D.C.
204 Russell Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510-2604
Phone: (202) 224-2644
Fax: (202) 224-8594
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
Meeting with administration tomorrow
Hey guys, at 11:30 tomorrow (Wednesday April 23) members of SESJ are meeting with the administration in UC room 331 to discuss the DSP. We would like to encourage you all to come and sit peacefully outside of the meeting to remind President Dennison (who missed our rally) how much support there is behind an anti-sweatshop policy at the UM.
Here's some pictures from the rally to remind you all how much we can get accomplished when we come together for a cause.
Here's some pictures from the rally to remind you all how much we can get accomplished when we come together for a cause.
Sunday, April 20, 2008
PANEL about sit-in
SESJ will be holding a panel at noon in the UC Atrium (outside of the market) on Monday April 21st (that's tomorrow!!) for everyone to ask questions about the sit-in.
We invite you all to participate
In solidarity,
SESJ
We invite you all to participate
In solidarity,
SESJ
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