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WashU Graduate Workers Union protests University’s handling of sexual harassment cases
WUGWU protestors march down a hallway (Courtesy of WUGWU)
The Washington University Undergraduate and Graduate Workers Union (WUGWU) held a march through several buildings on the medical school campus against the University’s handling of sexual harassment and assault cases on Friday, March 31.
The march was attended by 50-60 people, and began in the medical school’s Mid Campus Center with short speeches. It lasted about an hour.
Outcries against sexual assault in the medical school became louder after the details of a sexual harassment case, in which a WashU graduate student dropped her PhD degree after her lab’s principal investigator (PI) Dr. Jonathan Kipnis and the University failed to take effective action on her case, were made public.
“It’s critically important that undergraduates are aware of this happening. Sexual assault does not discriminate, and the earlier you can familiarize yourself with it, the earlier you can stop the bullshit,” said Talia Lintz, a PhD student and member of WUGWU.
WUGWU, though currently an unrecognized union, focuses on issues that can be solved through collective bargaining. Members saw the case as an issue of student safety and felt they had a role in holding the University accountable for its lack of action.
“The University hopes that our fragile memory does the job of erasing this colossal failure,” said Alejandro Gonzalez, a PhD candidate and member of WUGWU, in an opening speech for the march. “But we will not forget.”
Organizers explained that they circulated a petition which garnered 767 signatures and contained multiple demands for the administration to meet. Despite the petition, little change occurred, according to WUGWU organizers. Several WUGWU members said difficulties in working with the administration and the HR department had stalled changes from taking place.
“We have heard time and again of serious issues being reported to the administration, only to languish in the black box of human resources with no resolution in sight,” said Gonzalez.
Jamie Moffa, an MD/PhD student and leader of the march, provided further context for the march. “Everyone is clamoring for clarity,” they said. “We met with the administration, specifically with Dr. Eva Aagaard and Dr. Mark Lowe, and even though they said they were open to changing WashU’s policy of mandatory reporting, nothing has happened yet.”
Moffa added that they met with the graduate school’s HR department to bring forward their demands. “We want to strengthen the rules on failures in mandatory reporting. We think that PIs who fail to undertake this role should be put on probation by the University,” they said.
Other demands included the usage of a 3rd-party arbiter in conversations with the University when WUGWU members feel that responses to their demands have been inadequate and for more transparency from the HR department.
Titi Akinwe, a PhD student and WUGWU organizer, referenced toxic lab cultures as another reason for marching.
“This is also a conversation around the culture around sexual harassment here,” they said. “And this is not a new issue here.”
Led largely by Moffa, attendees held signs and chanted as they walked through hallways linking medical and graduate school buildings, so as to avoid patient areas.
“I JUST WANT A SAFE PLACE TO WORK,” “SILENT IS VIOLENT,” “WASHU HATES MeToo,” “SUPPORT SURVIVORS, NOT ABUSERS,” signs read.
As they marched, attendees chanted “Hold Kipnis accountable!” and “Do more!” — directing these chants at Aagaard, Lowe, medical school Dean David Perlmutter, and Chancellor Andrew Martin.
The march was accompanied by WashU Protective Services Officer Steve Manley. Moffa said that they and Manley had agreed before the march on attendees being able to chant, but that if Manley felt the need to call in other officers, march attendees would disperse.
As the march continued, Moffa and other organizers led attendees to the Farrell Learning and Teaching Center atrium, so they could unfurl a banner that read “WashU, believe #MeToo” over the balcony for everyone to see. Their chants drew confused looks from some onlookers below while others cheered them on. As they approached the balcony, Manley stopped the group.
“There’s an event here,” he said, as chanting continued from the group. “You’re not gonna drop the banner.”
Despite Manley’s protest, attendees continued to the balcony and dropped their banner. They remained there for about 2 minutes before turning around and leaving calmly. As they walked back down the hallway, Manley called for backup officers, saying, “Things are getting unruly.”
Organizers began leading the group towards elevators that went to administrative offices. Once the group got to the elevators Manley met up with Response Officers Mark Decker and Johnathan Blanchard. Manley and Blanchard stood in front of the elevators, and agitation between the two parties began to fester.
“The deans represent us, and they should be able to hear what the students have to say,” one attendee shouted.
“You’re not going up there,” Manley told the group. “This is a place of business,” he continued in response.
“I recommend you go that way quickly,” Manley gestured behind the group after a back-and-forth between himself and several attendees.
“What’s gonna happen if we don’t go that way?” Moffa asked, calmly.
After a pause, Manley said, “I would expect handcuffs,” yielding scoffs and sighs of resignation from the group. Several attendees left the event at this point, feeling threatened by Manley’s words. Others broke out into more chants.
“We want to meet our deans!” they shouted. “Where are you to stop abusers?”
After a request to send three people up and continued refusal from Manley and the other officers, WUGWU organizers asked the attendees to disperse. Manley remained by the entranceway to the elevators as attendees walked away.
When asked by StudLife what rule stated that students could not visit administrative offices, Manley said, “We’re not gonna do that right now.” When asked to clarify, he turned away and went to speak with other officers. He did not respond to an email request for comment as of 11 AM Sunday, April 2nd.
“They wouldn’t meet with us even though all we’re asking for is peanuts,” Moffa said as they walked away. “This isn’t a secret. WashU knows about abuses. It’s not hard to do the right thing, and they’re choosing to protect powerful men.”
For background on WUGWU’s activism, click here.