MINIMUM WAGE BANNER There are more
podcasts Interesting, informative and hilarious personalities you should listen to now
Men’s Basketball Rutgers travels to Illinois looking to end three-game losing streak
see opinions, page 6
appropriate ways to fight for $15 an hour
see InSIDE BEAT, page 8
SEE Sports, back
WEATHER Snow showers High: 39 Low: 19
Serving the Rutgers community since 1869. Independent since 1980.
rutgers university—new brunswick
tuesDAY, January 30, 2018
online at dAilytargum.com
Banners found on campus call for increase in U. worker wages Erica D’Costa Associate News Editor
On Monday, five banners advocating for an increase in University worker minimum wages were posted across campus. Brower Commons, the Student Activity Center (SAC), the New Brunswick train station, downtown Barnes and Noble and Super Fresh on Kirkpatrick Street were found sporting banners that read “Rutgers Pays Poverty Wages” and “Give Workers a Living Wage #15OnCampus.” In December 2017, University President Robert L. Barchi announced a 30-percent raise in student worker wages. This initiative became effective on Jan. 1 and increased the wage from the state mandated minimum of $8.44 per hour to $11 per hour for more than $30,000 students. The next day, a Rutgers Board of Trustees meeting at the Douglass Student Center ended abruptly after it was interrupted by protesters in United Students Against Sweat Shops (USAS) along with students from other organizations on campus like the Puerto Rican Student Union. The protestors passed a line of security officers that separated them from the center of the room and chanted “We work, we sweat, put that 15 on our set,” and “we want justice, and power and 15 an hour” until the meeting was adjourned, according to The Daily Targum.
The USAS commented on the event in a press-release email, saying that 12 student organizers are currently facing charges from the University for participating in “a peaceful demonstration where they sang and occupied a meeting space.” The organization also claimed that organizers reported instances of police intimidation due to their involvement with the campaign. In an interview with the Targum, USAS said they agree with the messages written on the banners. “President Barchi making $325 an hour is disgusting compared to the low wages he’s paying his workers. Furthermore, USAS decries the suppression of student organizers fighting for the end of poverty in New Brunswick ... Without USAS fighting for the end of poverty within the Rutgers—New Brunswick community, President Barchi would not have raised the student worker minimum wage to $11 an hour,” the organization said. As previously reported by The Daily Targum, Barchi said the process of raising the minimum wage is complicated and that raising the hourly wage to $14 would cost the University approximately $3.9 million, an amount he said he did not have. “Access and affordability for all students is a top priority at Rutgers University,” said Dory Devlin, interim senior director of University News & Media Relations, in
Banners that were posted in front of the New Brunswick train station call for an increase in worker minimum wages to $15 per hour. The banner makes the connection between President Barchi’s current payrate and University workers’ request. COURTESTY OF USAS an email to the Targum. “Knowing that more than 13,000 of our students work many hours each week on our campuses to defray education costs, President Barchi
increased the minimum wage for student workers employed by Rutgers on all campuses from $8.44 per hour to $11 per hour, ef fective Jan. 1, 2018. The
University will continue to work to keep tuition increases at a minimum while seeking new ways to suppor t students as they pursue their degrees.”
Barchi pushes DACA renewal 1 month before deadline Ryan Stiesi Associate News Editor
President Robert L. Barchi emailed students yesterday with resources on how they can support DACA DREAMers before the program-renewal deadline expires in March. He reiterated the importance of student advocacy in keeping DACA issues in front of Congress. THE DAILY TARGUM / FEBRUARY 2017
In an email sent yesterday, University President Robert L. Barchi directed students to an online tool for those interested in supporting the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program before its March deadline. The email’s subject line read “One Final Opportunity to Advocate for Dreamers.” In its body, Barchi said that Rutgers has been a national leader in advocating for the protection of the DACA program. “Over the course of the past year, our community has generated more than 33,000 letters to members of Congress urging the House of Representatives and the Senate to adopt bipartisan legislation to solve the DACA dilemma,” he said. Interested students can go to the Rutgers Advocacy web page, where they are asked to provide a name and address in support of the program. Barchi said the form then generates a letter of support that is emailed to the student’s U.S. senator
VOLUME 150, ISSUE 2 • University ... 3 • opinions ... 6 • INSIDE BEAT... 8 • Diversions ... 9 • SPORTS ... BACK
and representative, as well as President Donald J. Trump. He said that participation is entirely optional and that he understands members of the community might have different points of view. “I would never presume to tell you what to do with respect to legislative advocacy. We are offering this option to you because many people in our community have participated in activities to advocate for undocumented students,” Barchi said. In the email he provided a link to the United States Government’s web page, which provides information on how to contact elected officials across the country. Student advocacy has made a difference in keeping the DACA issue in front of Congress, Barchi said. Republicans and Democrats are now ready to put aside differences and take action. “We can make sure that happens … but only if we act quickly. If you share my concern about making permanent these protections, I’d like to ask you to join me one more time, for one last push to save DACA,” Barchi said.