The Rock on Farm Lane on Sept. 24, 2020. Photo courtesy of JMCSS Senator Jack Wheatley.
—Over a week since announcing a furlough of over 500 student workers, Vennie Gore, Senior Vice President for Auxiliary Enterprises, invited furloughed workers to a town hall with members of the leadership for Residential and Hospitality Services, or RHS. The town hall will take place Thursday from 7-8 p.m.
Gore sent the email about the town hall Sept. 30. He said the goal is to provide transparency about RHS' financial situation and to listen to student worker concerns.
The email sent by Gore acknowledges efforts from the furloughed workers, who have been working with the Spartan Solidarity Network, or SSN, to craft a plan of action. SSN released a petition that RHS and the university meet a list of eight demands, which currently has about 150 signatures.
"We admire you for banding together to support one another in this challenging time and are proud of the steps you have taken thus far," Gore said.
The furloughed workers were given less than a two-weeks notice of their leave of employment. RHS has pointed to the financial impact that the COVID-19 pandemic has had on university finances as the reason for the furloughs.
A list of hiring businesses was included in a letter from RHS Human Resources. International students who hold an F-1 visa are barred from working off-campus during their first year of school, leaving furloughed international students without income until on-campus employers can hire them.
The full email can be read below.
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