Organizers wage war in the fight for student pay increases

Poster for Jan. 21 protest. Courtesy of Students for a Democratic Society and Young Democratic Socialists

By Chantal Brown

The mystery behind the red and black shark flyers around campus has been revealed. 

Student organizations decided to dive into Ohio State’s finances to keep student employees from floundering.

About 50 protesters gathered outside the Ohio Union Jan. 21 to call for university administrators to raise the student minimum wage to $15. The demonstration was organized by the student groups Students for a Democratic Society and Young Democratic Socialists. 

This action was a follow-up to their online petition. 

Their other requests included free parking for student employees, more frequent and larger wage increases, and higher work hour limits for international and DACA students. Internal research that the organizations have highlighted on student pay illustrates that low wages hit workers deeper than in their pockets.

“Much of my income goes straight towards my rent,” Ricky Vehar said. Vehar is not only a fourth-year engineering major and co-chair of YDSA. She is also a student manager for campus dining services.

“Being able to make more money would be able to give me an actual comfort,” Vehar said.

The demonstration was started by two student organizations that share similar agendas. According to their mission statement, Students for a Democratic Society are dedicated to direct action and fighting for progressive causes for the Ohio State community. Similarly, Young Democratic Socialists at Ohio State are a left-wing group that prioritizes equity, justice, and the immediate needs of workers and students. 

Since December, they have informedthe public about the issue by passing out literature, posting flyers with meeting information, and QR codes with surveys for student employees to take. Information about a protest began circulating on Jan. 10. 

Demonstration leaders introduced information that supports the possibility of a minimum wage. Aaron Reilman, third-year computer science major and leader of SDS, explained how the university has $4 billion of flexibility within its $9 billion of assets. The petition also alleges a $2.961 billion financial gain from the university’s 2020-2021 fiscal year.

“Ohio State’s one of the largest universities in the country, fighting for a $15 minimum wage for us,” Reilman said. “Workers here would set an example for a precedent for other universities and hopefully put pressure on not only other universities with the surrounding businesses in Columbus.”

Despite this, the university maintains that they are paying employees reasonably. 

“Ohio State employs over 15,000 student employees in a variety of units and roles across its campuses. The university offers competitive salaries and benefits to retain and support our critical student employees, and we value their contributions to our campus life and land grant mission,” Ben Johnson, spokesperson for the university, said.

Following the procedures they used in previous campaigns, the groups continue their campaign. 

“Organizing is people coming together to take down the big man,” Anu Velamakanni, a fourth-year economics major and YDSA co-chair said. “Because when it's just one singular person, the fish looks big and it's like ‘oh, you can't take that down,’ but if these little tiny fish all come together to make a bigger fish, they can't do anything,”

“We definitely offer a lot of support when we need to like when we know we need to take a step back and be like we are here as allies, we are here standing in solidarity,” Velamakanni said. “But, also, the more people, the better, and the more pressure we can put on any oppressive institution that exists, the better.”