Over the summer 2020, U-M communicated a public health-informed reopening plan for on-campus and virtual learning in the fall. Meanwhile, many universities around the country – including MSU, about an hour away – announced plans for a totally virtual fall term to prevent the spread of COVID-19 between students. Well before the first van showed up for residence hall move-in day, students, staff and faculty sought clarity on testing policies, noticed inconsistent execution, and felt that their safety concerns weren’t being addressed. Fearful for safety and frustrated by slow communication with U-M leadership, the Graduate Employee’s Organization and dozens of resident advisors went on strike, which pressured the administration from several directions and in ways we haven’t seen in decades. In this episode, RC students and faculty weigh in on the GEO and RA strikes and the demonstration of MDining staff that, collectively, led to important public health gains for the entire U-M Ann Arbor campus community.
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