Five Washington University advocacy groups joined together to form WUnited, a coalition aimed to spur the administration into action on accessibility, support for students and social justice issues, and hosted a rally outside the Danforth University Center, Feb. 27.

Courtesy of Sara Rubenstein

WUnited consists of Student Union, Green Action, WashU Graduate & Undergraduate Workers Union (WUGWU), Title Mine and Washington University for Undergraduate Socioeconomic Diversity (WU/FUSED).

In advance of the rally, the group circulated a petition outlining 10 specific demands ranging from increased mental health services to the demilitarization of WUPD. At the time of publication, 162 people signed the petition.

According to SU VP of Public Relations and Media Coordinator for WUnited sophomore Beth Wiesinger, around 50 people attended the event, which began at the DUC fireplace and featured speeches from Wiesinger, Title Mine member freshman Ranen Miao, Title Mine Treasurer junior Kat Gemperli and WUGWU member and master’s candidate Christian Ralph.

The protestors then marched across campus to Brookings Hall in order to personally present their platform to Chancellor Martin. However, WUPD blocked the entrance and prevented Wiesinger from delivering the platform to Martin’s Chief of Staff.

SU President junior Tyrin Truong initially came up with the idea to bring many of the University’s advocacy groups together under a common platform. Truong then worked with Wiesinger and others to formally unite these groups. According to Wiesinger, despite initial differences, the groups managed to find common ground.

“At the beginning it was awkward and we had to get to know each other and understand where we’re coming from,” Wiesinger said. “But at the end of the day, we all want to see a more equitable campus. And any person who believes in these basic moral human rights would support this platform. And I think even though we’re a diverse group of people, we all come together in that sense.”

Title Mine President junior Candace Hayes identified certain core values such as equity, advocacy, solidarity, student power and human rights as core values shared by all advocacy groups, which brought them together.

“At the end of the day we all support all 10 demands that are on WUnited’s platform because we support all students having equitable access to the resources that they need to thrive at the University,” Hayes said.

WUnited is also open to including more student advocacy groups in their coalition. Although WUnited members declined to name plans for including specific groups, the Association of Black Students (ABS) was mentioned as a student organization that turned out for the rally in high numbers. According to Wiesinger, Leaders in Interpersonal Violence Education (L.I.V.E) has been an important part of the planning process, but is not officially affiliated with WUnited.

“We’re definitely in talks with a number of other advocacy groups on campus and different campus communities that are affected by the issues that we’re talking about,” Title Mine member sophomore Sam Bernstein said. “The list of demands that we have are things that very much intersect with all of the students here on campus in one way or another.”

Wiesinger voiced her criticism of the way the University is run, which she says overlooks important parts of the student experience.

“I think that the way that this University operates right now mimics a business, and it’s actually a 501c3 nonprofit [which is] not taxable,” Wiesinger said. “And I think that the University needs a wake up call to realize that not everything is about getting more money and doing that at all costs but to support students and use that for good.”

In response to WUnited’s rally, Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Lori White emphasized the University’s commitment to allowing student groups to express their opinions.

“Our goal is to create an environment on campus where all students can thrive and be successful,” White said. “We embrace free speech on our campus and support the right of our students to voice their opinions about issues they care about.”

WUnited will hold a follow-up meeting to discuss the group’s vision for the future March 4. Although WUnited has not yet met with Chancellor Martin or other members of the University leadership, this possibility will be discussed at the meeting. However, regardless of the path WUnited chooses to take, WUGWU executive chair Trent McDonald is confident that the group will be able to harness its momentum into substantive action as the semester goes on.

“Things are good [with] overall membership growing, activity growing,” McDonald said. “As things get warmer, people’s temperatures will rise too and [get] angry about things.”