This is a response to recent narratives I have heard, and I felt that discourse would be enriching to the discussion and the current situation. I would like to preface this with the information that I am not a student worker, but I am pro-union, and my mother and father are union members and have served as union delegates. 

Recently, some are pushing a narrative that strikers are “showing their privilege” by advocating for better pay and respect from Clark admin. It is true that many cannot strike for reasons of finances or because they are a resident advisor, who risk losing their housing if they strike, or they are international students afraid of retaliation by Clark admin, especially when Clark’s lawyer has stated that he would like to repeal the Columbia decision and effectively align Clark with the Trump administration.

Accusations of “showing privilege” by striking, to put it bluntly, sounds like poor evidence to bolster an even worse argument. Should the privileged not utilize that for good? Should the privileged just lay down and lick the boot like so many people seem to insist we must do? Or should they use this privilege to fight for all student workers, including and especially those who cannot strike? If you care about your fellow humans, the latter is clearly the way.

I personally believe in using the privilege you have within society, and I must admit that it is disheartening to see people attempt to push this strange narrative that because they are striking they must be privileged, and that somehow utilizing privilege is bad. Many are striking because they are not privileged financially; Clark treats its student workers as teenagers who need pocket money rather than adults who must pay for rent and food. In utilizing the language of privilege and disparity in an attempt to push an anti-union narrative, these Clarkies devolve into viewing workers the same way admin does. 

I would also like to add that Clark admin is directly to blame for many financial hardships of the Senior and Junior cohort; they over-admitted students and effectively forced these cohorts to rent near campus, and now they refuse to pay student workers enough to survive.

Finally, I would like to reiterate that those who cannot strike due to fear of retaliation by the university should not be blamed for the suppression of protest that Clark University is engaging in, but to group these individuals with those who do not strike by choice feels like an insult to the issues they are facing. If you have been harassed by someone for not striking, ignore them and know that the people co-opting the strike for a holier-than-thou narrative would be acting like this under any circumstances. Do not group them with people who genuinely want change, which is the overwhelming majority of people. In harassing random Clarkies it turns the focus away from admin and onto random liberal arts school garbage that we unfortunately fall victim to.

Additionally, and importantly, if you are not striking and the union wins, you as a student worker still benefit. If you cannot strike, at least provide bare minimum support and let people know where you stand. If you truly are anti-union and believe Clark is treating its employees fairly, feel free to season the boot before you lick it, but for everyone else who wants better pay, better hours, and genuine respect and recognition, the union stands with you.

The situation is absolutely not black and white, but I would like to note again that privilege should be utilized and that living in fear of authority is not only no way to live but also how the road to fascism is paved.