Broadside News

By Kevin Loker, C2M Executive Editor

With support from the Service Employees International Union, over 70 food service workers, claiming dissatisfaction with wages, working conditions and treatment from management, marched through George Mason University’s North Plaza Thursday, continuing a recent push to unionize.

Beginning at 6 a.m., the on-campus Sodexo workers went on strike, as part of a ‘national week of action’ against food giant Sodexo, according to Bianca Agustin, a representative for the SEIU. Throughout the day the strike grew to include over 100 employees.

According to Agustin, seven states have filed unfair labor practice charges against Sodexo and their management, who workers claim harass and intimidate them on the job and will not allow them to join a union.

“We want to be able to have a future here,” said Angelica Hernandez, who works at Southside.

According to Hernandez and 27-year Sodexo employee Ana Urias, the workers decided to go on strike to demand better benefits, salaries and working conditions.

“We want to be able to choose to have a union so we can defend our rights,” said Urias, who works at Jazzman’s in the Johnson Center.

Around 1 p.m., the workers began marching to campus, where they gathered at the North Plaza with signs, that read “Sodexo Unfair, Clean up Sodexo.”

A day before the strike, workers marched to the Sodexo offices located under Southside to deliver a petition with about 70 signatures to Sodexo’s Resident District Manager Denise Ammaccapane. The number of names on the petition has since grown to 110, according to Matt Painter, an assistant communications director with SEIU and the Clean Up Sodexo project.

Ammaccapane said she couldn’t accept the petition directly due to corporate policy and says when she asked for a name of somebody to get back to, nobody provided one. According to Ammaccapane, none of the claims workers were making against Sodexo had been previously brought to her attention, though workers claim they had e-mailed Ammaccapane to set up a time to meet.

Employee opinion appears divided. The majority of the 455 on-campus employees have not signed the petition, and many showed up to work or willingly filled in for the empty shifts according to Ammaccapane.

Most dining locations remained open for service Thursday. Jazzman’s, located in the School of Art and is run by one employee, did not open for service. Taco Bell closed early afternoon, and Freshens closed about an hour early.

Employees returned to work on Friday. At the march, Herrera said that the fight would continue.

After the Strike: A Letter, A Flier and Debate
Student Government’s Administrative Subcommittee on Dining Services released a letter to Student Media, University Relations and university administrators late Thursday night condemning the ‘false claims and accusations’ leveled against Sodexo and Mason Dining by the SEIU.

“Some dining employees that have teamed up with the SEIU have accused dining administrators, such as Resident District Manager Denise Ammaccapane, of not listening or responding to their concerns about low wages, a lack of hours, and insufficient benefits,” the letter reads. “In reality, the workers have never contacted dining administrators to seek help on such matters.”

The letter, which was published on Connect2Mason, goes on to speak of harassment not by dining management, as the SEIU has previously claimed, but by employees in favor of unionization to other workers with differing opinions.

“This has made for a hostile work environment,” it reads. In reference to Wednesday’s events in which over 70 protesters marched into dining offices underneath Southside, the letter argues that students have been left feeling uneasy as well, through ‘scare tactics and intimidation’ at the hands of SEIU.

The letter sparked online debate. Editorial staff posted a student response from Robert Gehl, a cultural studies doctoral candidate at the university, who argued against the committee’s representation of the student body.

“Take a deep breath and count the ways in which your lack of Jazzman’s coffee for a few hours on a weekday compares to a family’s lack of health care and benefits,” it reads.

On Friday, a day after the strike, piles of blue fliers with an altered image of the Service Employees International Union’s logo stating ‘SEIU Lies’ appeared in the Johnson Center and across campus.

The flier cites authorship ‘directly’ from Sodexo hourly workers who maintain that the ‘vast majority of Mason Dining Workers do not support the SEIU or their lies about management.’

“We are not managers and we do not officially speak for Sodexo,” it reads, after outlining similar claims as the dining committee’s letter. “We can only speak for ourselves, hourly workers on campus, and we will not be silent in the face of SEIU aggression any longer.”

Broadside Editor-in-Chief Emily Sharrer contributed to this report.

By Environmental Action Group

Last Thursday, advocates for comprehensive climate and energy policies held a film screening and panel discussion at George Mason University. The film was Clean Energy Jobs for a Strong USA, which highlights the benefits of clean energy jobs for American workers. The screening of the film was followed by a discussion with panelists Jason Von-Kundra, from the GMU Environmental Action Group, and Chad Laibly, with Continuum Energy Solutions. The event was sponsored by the Environmental Action Group, Repower America and the Sierra Club.

As the debate in Washington intensifies over how to address our nation’s energy, environmental and economic challenges, the personal stories of workers, veterans, business executives, investors and union members make a compelling argument in favor of meaningful and comprehensive clean energy policies. They also lay a roadmap for how our leaders can work together to implement climate and energy policies this year.

“Virginia has suffered in this economic recession, but today’s screening and discussion, especially with the large turnout, reminds us that hope is on the horizon,” said Chad Laibly, who manages a team that sells and installs solar panels for Continuum Energy Solutions in Northern Virginia. “As a former IT consultant, I am living proof that you can retool yourself and make a living in the renewable energy field. Now is the time to seize on this opportunity so that we can create [well]-paying jobs that will revitalize our local communities.”According to the Pew Environment Group, Virginia already has 1,446 clean energy businesses that have generated 16,907 clean energy jobs in the state. And clean energy and climate policies could create 50,000 new jobs in Virginia, according to a study by the University of California, Berkeley.

The film screened at the event shows how some workers are already transitioning from jobs dependent on fossil fuels to clean energy jobs. Von-Kundra explained that “The film addresses the importance of including workers from fossil fuel industries in the benefits of clean energy jobs. Regions of fossil fuel extraction, such as the coal fields of Appalachia, experience higher poverty rates and remain vulnerable to economic collapse with the abandonment of exhausted mines. That is their sacrifice to supply the nation with cheap electricity. If we destroy those communities by not providing them with clean energy jobs, we are destroying them similar to the mining companies. That is a moral issue that cannot be overlooked. The Blue Green Alliance, a coalition of worker unions and environmental groups, has begun working on this issue, but more can be done, especially on a legislative level.”

Von-Kundra explained some of the ways Mason is involved in the movement for clean energy. A minor in renewable energy at Mason educates students for technical jobs in the clean energy economy. The Environmental Action Group uses citizen lobbying to demand that Congress pass climate and energy legislation this year. The Patriot Green Fund is a proposal that would bring clean energy jobs to campus by funding solar panel installation and other sustainable initiatives.

Thousands of people are voicing their support of clean energy through the website Repower America. Over 58,000 people and businesses have uploaded messages on the Repower Wall supporting clean energy policies, and along with the film, both lay a roadmap for how our leaders should move forward to tackle the biggest challenges we face.

“Acting on clean energy and climate is the most important issue for my generation,” says Bradley Perrow, a graduate student at Mason. “The messages in the film, the videos on the Repower Wall and the discussion tonight send a powerful signal that clean energy jobs are going to play a major role in our nation’s future.”

Participants in today’s film screening and panel discussion support comprehensive climate and energy policies, and believe such policies are a vehicle toward making the promise of clean energy jobs a reality for more Americans.

For more information on the Environmental Action Group, please visit their website at www.gmu.edu/org/environment or e-mail them a gmueag@gmail.com.

By Lauren Jost, C2M Contributor

In addition to the new faculty and staff carpool and fuel-efficient parking programs, George Mason University is introducing a new eco-friendly way to commute to campus: ride-sharing.

The program, called Zimride, is similar to a former car-sharing program at Mason called Zipcar — used to provide driving plans and cars for university drivers over 21 years of age.

But what’s the difference?

According to Transportation Coordinator Bob Tennant, Zimride only provides rides, not cars.

“Zimride is simply a ride sharing program where riders log onto the website, post their rides or requests, and Zimride helps match with rides posted,” said Tennant. “This will work for regular commutes as will as single rides — to a concert, or home, wherever home is. Only people with a gmu.edu address can access this unique site, and [they] will be matched with someone from the Mason community.”

In short, what Zimride does is connect drivers who commute to the Fairfax campus from various areas, including but not limited to Falls Church, Manassas Park and Arlington.

Zimride is the largest dedicated carpool technology company in North America with over 300,000 users and has created carpool communities for over 40 of the nation’s most established universities.

From its website, Zimride shares quotes from people who think Zimride is beneficial. “Ride-sharing software is not new, but Zimride is one of the first to capture the imagination of young adults wanting to make a difference and save money along the way,” said Ron Yoder, web communications director at Eastern Kentucky University.

A former Cornell student and current Cornell faculty member, Corey Earle, said, “Zimride is fantastic for students and faculty. It is a simple and intuitive system that is fun to use while at the same time allowing for a higher level of trust.”

Users sign up and input their commuting addresses and departure times into Zimride’s website and can view others commuting from the same area. Historically, some drivers request a weekly commuting fee.

To disperse some people’s concerns of riding in cars with strangers, Zimride users have a chance to connect with one another on the Zimride Facebook group in order to get to know each other before jumping into a commuting relationship.

Some Mason students shared their doubts.

Transfer student Stephanie Webber, a former student at Ohio State where a similar car-sharing program was implemented, says the program was shut down.

“It was not very popular,” said Webber. “All of the housing in Columbus was within walking distance from campus or connected by a shuttle. I never saw any ads.”

“I think there are plenty of transportation methods available already,” said foreign languages major Braden Cohen. “Although, I’ve never been without a car while at Mason.”

According to a Mason press release regarding the implementation of Zipride, “This partnership marks a significant step in improving campus sustainability practices. Furthermore, ridesharing on your daily commute or on longer one-time trips will substantially reduce the costs of travel for our community.”

The service began last week, and can be accessed online at http://zimride.gmu.edu.

By Reuben Jones, Broadside Correspondent

On Jan. 12 of this year, close to 200,000 people lost their lives in an earthquake in Haiti. Another 400 people died in February in an earthquake in Chile. And early last week, four people were gunned down in southern Washington, D.C. These examples of human suffering this year provided a backdrop for an on-campus discussion about the existence of a devine being.

Over 100 people showed up last Wednesday to attend the Interfaith Conference called “If God exists, then why is there suffering?” The conference was sponsored by the Ahmadiyya Muslim Student Association (AMSA).

Five speakers spoke on behalf of their religions and then took questions from the audience. The religions represented in the panel were Judaism, Islam, Christianity, Buddhism and Atheism.

The topic of religion can sometimes lead to heated debates and even violence. This conference, however, was a chance for each religion to express their viewpoints while having a lively discussion between panelists and audience members.

Each speaker was given 15 minutes to speak about their religion and to respond to the question of God’s existence in spite of human suffering.

“I think in terms of what makes sense and what doesn’t make sense,” said Ted Penton, a religions teacher at Westfield High School who spoke on behalf of Atheists. “If so much bad stuff happens, where is God?” he asked.

“Religions seem to have done a lot of harm in the world,” Penton added.

Rabbi Bruce Aft, Rabbinic adviser of the George Mason University Community Hillel Board, represented Judaism at the conference.

“We partner together with God to approach suffering in the world,” said Rabbi Aft.

He went on to say that suffering can ultimately be for the good.

When people ask the question of why God lets suffering happen, he believes the question can be countered and then asked of the person who questioned the existence of God.

“It’s our task to try and repair a broken world,” said Rabbi Aft.

The Rev. Denise Giacomozzi May, minister director for United College Ministries, also argued that suffering can be good for us.

A comment made by May sparked some controversy during the Q & A session when audience members questioned one of her beliefs about human beings.

“I don’t think you are born being naturally good,” said May.

Afterwards, May clarified her comment saying, “Humans created good, but through our sinful choices our goodness has been broken. We cannot make ourselves good.”

“God is pursuing us to reach out and love,” said May.

This view was contrary to Penton’s perspective. He believes the idea that humans are not born naturally good is “disturbing.”

The Buddhist view of suffering focused on expectations.

The Rev. Kaz Nakata of the Ekoji Buddhist Temple in Fairfax Station spoke on behalf of Buddhists. “When we expect something, there is suffering,” he said.

He explained that suffering exists within our expectations.

“When people encounter differences, they come out stronger,” said Nakata.

Imam Naseem Mahdi, the national vice president of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community USA, spoke about Islam.

Islam, Mahdi says, focuses on peace and submission.

Mahdi explained how there can be man-made suffering. But through the teachings of the Islam, suffering can actually prove the existence of God.

After the event, Saud Iqbal, president of Ahmadiyya Muslim Student Association at Mason, was pleased with the turnout and the success of the conference.

“The goal was to try and have a good dialogue,” said Iqbal. “It was a great conference and a success,” he said.

Every semester the AMSA typically holds conferences that focus on different issues in the Muslim world. The goal is for the conferences to try to get rid of negative anger sometimes directed at Islam and to promote peace in the community.

The AMSA motto is “Love for All, Hatred for None,” and after Wednesday’s successful event, they look to have more conferences in the future that discuss interfaith issues around the world.