From Brief, September 15, 2004
Like mushrooms overnight, "Vote for the U" signs popped up on Northrop Mall and around the Twin Cities campus last week on the first day of class.
The lawn signs helped to kick off a campaign to generate excitement and get students, faculty, and staff engaged in the upcoming election. "Vote for the U" makes it easy for the U community to vote by helping people to register and providing the tools to get educated before going to the polls on November 2.
I PLEDGE NOT TO PARTICIPATE IN ANY PRO-UNIVERSITY ACTIVITY FOR SEVERAL REASONS: 1. THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA CAN BE AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY HARRASSER ACCORDING TO VAL JOHNSON,AN EEOC OFFICER. 2. BOYNTON FEELS THEY CAN VIOLATE FMLA
LAWS BY HARRASSING ILL EMPLOYEES. 3. CENTRAL HR,PATTI DION'S STATEMENT AT THE LAST CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS THAT THE UNIVERSITY WAS "FAMILY FRIENDLY" AT A TIME WHEN SHE WAS TRYING TO GUT OUR
VACATION TIME AND SICK TIME AS WELL AS PASS HIGHER INSURANCE COSTS TO LOW PAID EMPLOYEES SHOULD HANG HER HEAD IN SHAME. 4. THANKS FOR THE
STRIKE. I HOPE TO PICKET AGAIN REAL SOON! 5. I
CAN NOT AFFORD TO SEND MY OWN CHILD TO THE U OF M. 6. ADMINISTRATORS AND FACULTY HAVE DIFFERENT LEAVES OF ABSENCE THAN UNION PEOPLE. PATTI DION REFUSED TO CONSIDER EQUAL LEAVES. SORRY --I DO NOT THINK THEIR CHILDREN OR FAMILIES ARE ANY MORE IMPORTANT THAN MINE. I THINK YOU SHOULD HAVE THE IDEA BY NOW THAT UNHAPPY EMPLOYEES LIKE ME FEEL INSULTED AND DEMEANED BY THE U OF M AND WILL NOT ONLY PULL OUR
FINANCIAL PLEDGES BUT REFUSE TO GIVE YOU ANY SUPPORT UNTIL YOU TRULY BECOME "EMPLOYEE FRIENDLY
AND FAMILY FRIENDLY".