Posted on 03/01/2020 9:28:27 AM PST by Steely Tom
President Carmen Twillie Ambar, Oberlin College’s first Black president and just the second female president, shared with us all an impressively argued, 900-word announcement titled “Dining and Custodial Negotiations,” which reported that the College has proposed to, very shortly, cut every single one of its custodians and dining hall workers without warning, unceremoniously — a Trump-like “Get out of here, you’re all fired!”
President Ambar’s defense of her actions is quite solidly based upon One Oberlin, which is the name of the final report produced by the Academic and Administrative Program Review. The president offers an unassailable argument for the protection of the College’s core value: that of “educating our students for lives of meaning,” as she wrote in the announcement.
These cuts are projected at some time in the future to generate more than $2 million a year in savings. Moreover, the College holds that, although it might have to pay Gibson’s Bakery an astounding award once approaching $50 million — perhaps a lot more if it loses its appeal — these firings have nothing to do with the trial’s outcome.
The declaration strains credulity far too much because just $2 million of that $50 million would produce the savings expected from all these job eliminations, saving the jobs of many Blacks, people of color, women, et cetera — all of whom, though now treated, if not actually viewed, as expendable, have always been as loyal to Oberlin as any other class or section of the College. They are, indeed, our most vulnerable.
The president is absolutely right to ensure that educating our students for meaningful lives remains sacrosanct. Surely, all alumni and current students would unhesitatingly do all we can to help those less fortunate among us, so near to us. It’s the least we can do to breathe life into our words about “educating our students for lives of meaning.”
Would the president at least ask our Board of Trustees to reconsider the employee cuts if the College wins its appeal and does not have to pay the full $44 million to Gibson’s? You are in no position to demand, but ask.
But regardless of the outcome, would the president at least ask our Board of Trustees not to hire any vendor who will not guarantee that their employees will be paid a living wage and receive health care? Again, you are an employee and can’t demand, but you can ask your employers to hold the candle high in support of “educating our students for lives of meaning.”
What is the College’s core value — not just our students’ — if not a willingness to stand for a living wage and health care for any human being, but especially for those eager to clean our toilets and cook our food?
This one slipped under the radar.
Ping.
Wow! Who ever heard of a college or university cutting expenses?
ThE mIlLiOnAiReS aND BiLlIoNaIrEs
“Moreover, the College holds that, although it might have to pay Gibson’s Bakery an astounding award once approaching $50 million — perhaps a lot more if it loses its appeal — these firings have nothing to do with the trial’s outcome. “
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LOL
Wait until the professors are notified of layoffs.
It’ll be a riot! LOL
Booksmart idiot too ignorant to know she is stupid. She’s voting for Bernie, no doubt.
Does the University employ no white people, and are they not worthy of equal consideration, or do they fall under the brush-off category "et cetera"?
Although my sympathies are with the bakery, I think the $44 million award was excessive - that’s probably more money than the bakery earns in 25 or 30 years.
I have observed that excessive awards are commonplace with today’s courts
Oberlin broke the contract they had with Gibson’s, and they also attempted to run them out of business by applying pressure to the community. Plus damages for defamation and willful violations? Yeah, $44M isn’t nearly enough.
I do not think so at all
The Liberals need to be taught a lesson and once you give them ground they will never relent and give it back
I would think that you might know better, but looking at your handle I take it you live in the Liberal Utopia of Seattlestan
I have been there and it is in a proverbial sense sinking into a fecund sea of Liberal permissiveness and social engineering that will some day soon render it as a place not to either visit or do business as it has been declared a giant Homeless encampment where you are either receiving something or a Government hack with a job of taking care of them
It is time to take a stand, not step aside and so oh well
Bread and circuses is what Rome devolved into before it fell
How much do you know of this case? The local jury returned a verdict of damages of $11 million and punitive of $33 m. By the time of the verdict Gibson Bakery, started in 1885 on a pushcart, was reduced to unpaid family staffing. They were attacked by Oberlin students AND Faculty for resisting an attempt by a student to shoplift wine from the store, a fact that the student admitted to in open court.
Oberlin not only suspended a commercial contract with Gibson but also allowed a multi-day student blockade of the store and further supported the demonstrators with pizzas & gloves from student funds (Nov.2016). The jury found it credible that Oberlin’s dean of students, Meredith Raimondo, actively supported the protesters to the extent of, with other Oberlin faculty & staff, handing out fliers urging a boycott of the store.
FYI: Note the timeframe and think it possible that Oberlin was perhaps allowing student anger at the Trump victory to be blown-off at the expense of this white-bread bakery!
Oberlin most recent success: A new wellness center that sparkles on the edge of the old Philips gym stresses inclusivity.
“..suggested that Oberlin settle with Gibson’s if they agreed to accept $1 less than what the court awarded.”
Nothing wrong with that suggestion. It makes sense if you believe that Oberlin will lose its appeal but yet you wish to see even the tiniest symbolic gesture of culpability on Gibson’s part.
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