Volume 93/Issue 111
THE
September 16th, 2019
ANCHOR
Rhode Island College’s Independent Student Newspaper Since 1928
Change.org petition leads to Don Sit-In; Draws student and public audiences Alison Darmetko In” that she, “started a peAbigail Nilsson tition on change.org a couAnchor Staff and News Editor ple of Fridays ago because
[I] was real mad about the price of the hot dogs.” The coordinators of the online petition received 1,300 signatures. Their goal of the sit-in was to encourage as many people to join them and sign a new petition that they took officially out through the RIC Student Community Government, Inc. The sit-in took place during the free period, which is a time that most students and faculty members do not have class. Sitting in the back of the protest taking notes of what the students had to say Ronya Traynham; was Director of Photo by Mark Medeiros Dining and Retail Services,
Rhode Island College students, alumni and staff came together on Sept. 11 to voice their concerns regarding an increase in meal plan prices at Donovan Dining Hall. Many community members signed an online petition that was created by a RIC junior, Emily Page. Page stated at the start of the “Don Did Me Dirty Sit-
Arthur Patrie, and Dean of Students, Dr. Tamika Wordlow-Williams. Both said they were there to “listen and better understand student concerns.” As Page began the protest, she and her fellow student organizer Ronya Traynham began explaining their concerns to any students who may have been unaware of the online petition, price increases and overall food quality. “This is to you Donovan Dining Center, are you listening? This is to you Arthur, are you listening?... This is the food we eat everyday, we know what we are talking about,” said Page during her speech at the sit-in. When Traynham took over, the protest went from complaints of the prices to claims of the price increases being an attack on minority students, those from
low income backgrounds and on prison laborers. Traynham said, “Food insecurity is not something people need to worry about. It’s present on our campus. I, myself and other fellow RIC students are dealing with food insecurity right here and now to various degrees.” A RIC employee, who wished to remain anonymous said, “these allegations can cause some
Petition signee; Photo by Thomas Crudale
issues for the decreased morale, and make for a hostile work environment for workers in the kitchen.” Following their speeches, participants were encouraged to openly express any of their concerns related to Donovan Dining Center. Lillian Brietzke, a petition signee who lived on campus for four years, took the microphone and Continued on page 4; “Don Did Me Dirty”
The Steel Yard is back and open to the public Sophia Guerrier A&E Editor
Photo Courtesy of The Steel Yard
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opening will now offer year round classes in welding, jewelry, blacksmithing, and ceramics, which are opportunities that the National Center of Education Statistics has acknowledged as a declining resource nationwide. “These renovations are what our community has been asking for. Our donors have stepped up on every level, allowing the Steel Yard to be open year round and provide more access to the tools and community of the industrial arts,” said Howie Sneider, Executive Director of the Steel Yard,
The world will continue to push its way forward into the information age as digital technologies boast progressive sophistication every single day. Here in Providence, RI, however, the Steel Yard is holding industrialized practices close to its heart while others are letting go. After over four months of renovation and restoration, The Steel Yard will be reopened on Sept. 17, benefitting from a 2.7 million dollar construction project that transformed the facility’s studios, ventilation, and heating. Championing the indus- Continued on page 10; trial arts, The Steel Yard’s re- “Steel Yard”
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