The Red and Black

Issue date: 2/28/08 Section: Opinions

Support the staff

Univ. employees are crucial, and they deserve pay that reflects their value

Hamilton Holmes and Charlayne Hunter-Gault, the first two black students enrolled at the University, may never have been admitted if it hadn't been for the help from a black janitor who pilfered undergraduate applications for them.

Not all low-wage University employees will be remembered as an aide to a historical event, but they continue to play a crucial role in the daily operation of the University.

Without these workers, the University would cease to function, so they deserve to be paid more for their services.

Many students come into contact with these under-appreciated employees serving food in dining halls, sweeping dorm hallways and cleaning restrooms in the Student Learning Center. But when students venture a short distance off campus, they easily can see the places these people call home - many rely on government assistance in order to support their families.

Today, the lowest salary at the University is $20,000 after University President Michael Adams advocated an increase from $12,790. As the cost of living and the federal minimum wage continue to increase, so should the pay to these University workers.

If current University funds cannot be rearranged to compensate for higher wages, we suggest Adams use his fundraising skills and accumulate enough to increase salaries gradually.

Students interested in showing their support behind the cause can attend the 2 p.m. rally at Tate plaza and sign the online petition addressed to Adams on the Web site www.johndoeuga.org, as cited in today's Red & Black article.

- Melanie McNeely for the editorial board

Cruel immaturity

Stealing flamingos for fun hindered a worthy cause to help Relay For Life

An unknown perpetrator curbed the progress of the Alpha Gamma Delta sorority's fundraising plan Feb. 11 with a low blow.

The sorority arranged to plant flamingos in lawns of consenting sorority and fraternity houses, after which the organizations would donate money to Relay For Life and Alpha Gamma Delta would remove the birds.

Relay for Life is an organization that promotes cancer research and treatment. According to its Web site, "by participating in a Relay For Life event near you, you honor cancer survivors, pay tribute to the lives lost to the disease and raise money to help fight it."

But the 24 plastic flamingos were last seen in Gamma Phi Beta's front lawn and have been missing since.

We think Alpha Gamma Delta's "Flamingo Flocking" was a fun, creative take on an admirable fundraising event, and whoever stole the birds dropped to a remarkable moral low - stealing from a charity striving to help those suffering from cancer.

The sorority spent more than $100 to pay for the flamingos and sign but had raised only $40 after the first lawn visit on Feb. 4. The Alpha Gamma Delta ladies now have less than two months to break even and raise funds for Relay For Life.

We wishes them the best of luck.

- Kelly Shaul for the editorial board

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