Last fall, Villanovans revived the Global Social Justice Initiative on campus. The organization serves as a strong representation of Villanova’s Augustinian values, as it consistently creates opportunities to serve the community and promotes values rooted in social justice. The organization was formed to address and improve social justice within the community, starting with their home at Villanova. This year, it recently hosted a basketball tournament as a fundraiser for Palestine with catered food and sold Valentine’s Day roses for the California wildfire relief.
As a prominent worldwide social justice issue, the group launched an initiative regarding worker’s rights on campus. Members of the organization focused on the Connelly Center employees, as they provide the heart of Villanova’s campus.
The organization posted a petition statement on their Instagram outlining its advocacy initiative for Connelly Center employees. In the statement, student representative Samuel Rowland discussed the great contribution that the Connelly Center workers bring to campus, and the importance of returning the favor.
“Our school staff, especially those working in the Connelly Center, are an integral part of our community.,” he said. “They provide us with food and comfort every day, contributing significantly to our overall well-being on campus.”
In the statement, Rowland acknowledged that the Connelly Center workers do not have a dedicated space where they can take breaks during their shift. Workers usually are forced to eat their lunches alongside students or find a corner in the busy student center.
“This is far from ideal as it does not allow them the peace and quiet they deserve during their break times,” Rowland said.
Rowland and the organization indicated the potential for a break room equipped with basic amenities like a refrigerator, something in which most workplaces consider a standard amenity.
A representative from the student organization, Ari Valbrun, spoke to The Villanovan about the group’s previous efforts, goals for the breakroom initiative and an update on a year of advocacy.
Valbrun noted that the breakroom initiative was meant to create a space designated for dining hall workers to decompress from a hectic day of providing food to Villanova students.
Valbrun discussed the formation of the idea.
“It formed because so many of us were driven by the same mission, to change the wrong around us, and to do so by educating both ourselves and others,” she said.
She also spoke about how the Connelly Center differs from other dining halls, and how their advocacy focuses on the Connelly Center because of their difficult situation.
“While other dining halls have more space for workers to take breaks, much of the limited seating in the Connelly Center is taken up by students, leaving workers with no choice but to eat their lunches in the locker room,” Valbrun said.
Valbrun also mentioned the renovation of the Connelly Center, which could bring the option of building a break room.
“Moreover, Villanova plans to renovate the Connelly Center over the summer, so it makes perfect sense to push for the construction of a break room this semester,” she said.
The breakroom initiative has been in motion for a while, but has faced trouble in communication with the Villanova administration.
“Little has changed regarding the specifics of our efforts,” Valbrun said. “One of our dilemmas last year was a lack of knowledge on who to reach out to at the University. The university has had a history of ignoring our emails asking to meet and discuss this issue, which is why we turned to petitioning as a tactic.”
In the organization’s petition statement, Rowland also addressed the lack of response from the university.
“We have reached out to the school administration and have been met with either silence or excuses,” Rowland said.
The statement included that the organizers had sent University President Father Peter M. Donohue, O.S.A., Ph.D. four emails, and he responded to one. In Father Peter’s response, Rowland noted that he answered none of the questions, nor did he address their request for a meeting.
“We understand that this project will require some undertaking, but we believe that it is in the interest of our school values to do so,” Rowland said.
Rowland concluded the statement by officially calling on Villanova University to establish a dedicated break room for employees at the Connelly Center.
Valbrun also spoke about their recent efforts in petitioning, hanging flyers around campus, and tabling outside the Connelly Center and Cova. The group plans to table on Wednesdays and Thursdays from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. to communicate with fellow students, as most of them are unaware of the lack of a break room in the Connelly Center.
The Villanovan concluded by asking Valbrun about goals for the rest of the semester.
“Put simply, we hope to secure a break room for the workers,” she said. “We consider anything short of this a failure, and we will continue to petition and raise awareness until our concerns are addressed.”
