In case we haven’t already met, my name is Alexis Disselkoen, and I teach in the Critical Studies program at the Roski School of Art and Design.

I’d first like to report back about the amazing rally and march that I and several colleagues took part in this past Wednesday, 4/15. We all met up at the McDonald’s just northeast of campus to join a massive Fight for $15 rally already underway. From there the faculty marched across campus to Tommy the Trojan, flanked by a horde of loud and amazing USC students, and with hundreds of fast-food, childcare and other workers backing us up, all chanting: “Fight On for Faculty! Fight On to Victory!”

Faculty and students then broke off to visit the Provost’s Office, where we hand-delivered the Dear Colleagues letter that many of you have already signed, along with a student petition in support of our faculty unionizing efforts! Both petitions call upon the administration to cease their anti-union attacks, and to cease spending any student tuition dollars opposing our efforts to form a union.

The event was extremely emotional and energizing, and demonstrated the power that we faculty have when we join together, most especially with our students and community at our side. You can find a video recap of the day here:

 

I left the rally this Wednesday with a sense that success in forming our union at USC is only a matter of time, but also with the realization of how much work it’s taken us over the semester to get ourselves to this point. There is still some more work to be done, and so if everyone continues to reach out to our colleagues across campus, we will be able to start making some real improvements at USC for ourselves, and most of all for our students.

Please do be in touch if you have any questions or ideas.

Sincerely,

Alexis