TOM, the bronze tiger statue outside of the University Center, was transformed into a shining aluminum beacon for worker equality Monday.
Members of the Progressive Student Alliance covered the statue in aluminum foil in an attempt to draw attention to their effort to establish a living wage for campus workers.
"The policy reflects poorly on the University, hence the reflecting tin foil, that these people are getting paid poverty wages," Vanlyn Turner-Ramsay, co-chairman of the PSA and freshman psychology major, said. "There is a growing trend that more and more universities are adopting living wages for their campuses. It makes our University less appealing."
The group spent about 10 minutes wrapping the statue before someone told them to take down the foil.
The group will have a table and information in the same location today outside of the UC in hopes of gaining the attention of students, faculty, staff and specifically John Morgan, chancellor of the Tennessee Board of Regents, who is scheduled to visit the campus.
"If he sees this stuff, hopefully it will influence his choice for interim president, someone who actually cares about workers," Jeffrey Lichtenstein, a campus worker and member of the United Campus Workers Union, said. "He also has the power to give folks a real raise instead of just 500 bucks. The Union is asking for about $1,200 which would be a little over $1 an hour."
Some students have concerns about where the University would find the funding to increase workers' salaries.
"I just don't know where the money would come from," Aidan Porter, sophomore music business major, said.
Turner-Ramsay sees the allocation of funds as an indication of the University's priorities.
"What is the priority of their funds, because it is apparently not the people who uphold this campus," Turner-Ramsay said.
The PSA, in conjunction with the Workers Interfaith Network, United Campus Workers Union and the Living Wage Coalition, will hold a rally Wednesday at 11:15 a.m. on the Alumni Mall.
"The rally will be full of unions, community supporters, students and faith leaders coming together to take a stand for human rights and equality and living wages," Turner-Ramsay said.
Living wages vary by city, and David Ciscel, a former professor of economics at the University, determined the living wage for Memphis. For the past few years, the Workers Interfaith Network has been lobbying to establish a living wage of at least $11.62 an hour for campus workers.
"This is the point at which a worker could cover all basic necessities without having to work multiple jobs," Zach Ferguson, assistant organizer for Workers Interfaith Network, said. "It does not include the ability to pay down debt, save or invest money or any money for entertainment."
Workers Interfaith Network has been working with campus organizations to establish a living wage for workers for three years.
"We are talking about people. We aren't just talking about an employee ID number that sometimes the administration views them as," Ferguson said. "The University of Memphis would not operate without these people."
