University of Vermont Alum Bill Oetjen of Burlington expresses his outrage at UVMs Davis Center on Friday
"Right now, UVM is in a race to the bottom. They are out of line with students, they are out of line with students, staff, faculty, and maintenence workers interests" said a student of UVM at during a press conference at the Davis Center on Friday. Drawing a crowd of fellow protestors as well as others who watched from various windows, staircases, and balconies around the building; a group of about 50 UVM'ers marched into the Board of Trustees meeting to protest the the union-busting actions and conduct of William Ruprecht, a member of the Board at UVM and CEO at Sotheby's Auction House in New York City.
A Trustee since 2008, Ruprecht has come under increasing fire after locking out 42 unionized art handlers approximately 6 months ago. Though the University continues to assert Ruprecht's quality as a board member, the emphatic crowd (including several of the art handlers themselves who traveled to Burlington) felt otherwise. "UVM should not be run like a business, I'm here for my education" stated one student following the rally.
Protestors gather to protest the continued acceptance of William Ruprecht on the UVM Board of Trustees
Though Ruprecht refused to attend the Board meeting on Friday, amid rumors that he feared for his safety, those who participated in the rally consider the event a success and are looking forward to actions in the future. "[Speaking here on Thursday evening] Bill McKibben said that civil disobedience is under-utilized" stated one grad student, hinting at a ratcheting up of protests to take place in the coming months. Among the actions discussed at a post rally meeting were a trip to join the art handlers on their New York picket line.
The Board of Trustees at UVM
Amid the protest and chanting about Ruprecht, many of those gathered were also upset at what might be termed the increasing "Fogelization" of the Vermont's flagship institution. Tuition rates have skyrocketed over the past ten years (see table below or click link to view full UVM report) while many of what some consider to be vital programs and professors are cut, not in the name of their educational or academic viability, but as a measure of whether or not they were financially lucrative. The Davis Center itself, nick-named "The Death Star" by students, where the protest took place on Friday, has become a symbol Fogelization, as a separate corporate entity that has cost students dearly for its construction and has repeatedly charged student clubs and organizations exhorbitant fees for use of that space.
As a measure of their frustration and in a show of solidarity with students around the nation, UVM'ers (both students and faculty) voiced plans of participating in a nationwide "walk-out" from classes on March 1st and vowed continued action throughout the year.
Protesters hold signs while chanting "UNION BUSTING IS DISGUSTING!" at their rally on Friday
Information Presented UVM's February 2012 Board Book