FORIMMEDIATERELEASEJanuary19,2016

StudentsFaceChargesforWorkerJusticeDemonstrationLOYOLAUNIVERSITYCHICAGOOnNovember20,2015,studentsfromtheUSpeakandStudentsforWorkerJusticeinitiativesoftheStudentGovernmentofLoyolaChicago(SGLC)organizedademonstrationinsolidaritywithLoyoladininghallworkers.Forseveralmonths,workershavebeenstrugglingtonegotiatewithAramark,thefoodserviceprovideroncampus,foralivingwage,freehealthcare,andprotectionsforimmigrantworkers.Followingthedemonstration,studentsbroughttheirconcernsregardingtheseinjusticestoAramarkexecutivesoncampus.Inresponsetothepeacefuldelegation,theLoyolaadministrationisnowtargetingfourstudentorganizersandtheentireSGLCwithchargesofharassment/bullying,disruption,anddisorderlyconduct.Thefourstudentsarefacingacademicprobationorsuspension,andSGLCcouldlosefundingandaccesstospacereservations,threateningitsabilitytoeffectivelyengagewiththestudentbody.Asdininghallworkerscontinuetocallfordignifiedworkingconditions,wages,andprotections,centraltenetsofCatholicsocialteaching,thestudentsfacepunishmentforstandingbesidethemintheirstruggle.ThisdirectlycontradictsthespiritofLoyolasjesuitmission,amissionthatencouragesstudentstoseekknowledgethroughthepursuitofjustice.ItunderminestheStudentPromisetocareforcommunity,acommitmenttomakingourcommunityandtheworldmoreequitableandjust.Thechillingeffectispalpable.Thoughstudentsandworkersareunderattack,werefusetobesilencedbytheLoyolaadministration.Weremainsteadfastinourbeliefthatfreedomofspeechandthedignityofworkarefundamentalrightsforstudentsandworkersonourcampus.PleasejoinusincallingontheLoyolaadministrationtodroptheseunjustchargesagainststudentorganizersbysigningthepetitionbelow.https://actionnetwork.org/petitions/tellloyolathatstudentswontbesilencedInSolidarity,USpeakandStudentsforWorkerJustice