RA sit-in: Live updates

We'll be updating this page with updates from RAs' sit-in all day. Check back here and on twitter for live updates. For background info check out RA sit-in: What you need to know. 4:05 p.m.

RAs have started to leave University Residence offices to Fraser Hall to attend an event to promote a College of Ethnic Studies. pic.twitter.com/vQ0cIFOXB2

— The Western Front (@TheFrontOnline) May 22, 2017

3:00 p.m. update (delayed) 1:30 p.m. ^th April 17 12:12 p.m. 11:55 p.m. update Sophomores Xana Waughman and Anne Lee stand outside the entrance of Edens Hall, handing out posters and directing newcomers coming to join the sit in. “A lot of people have classes during that 10 a.m. break and we just want to make it clear where people should come through, especially non-RAs who might not know where the entrance is,” Waughman said. The pair is directing people to the office of Leonard Jones, director of University Residences. The sit in was planned in response to the administration raising the RA monthly stipend, but refusing to continue the open discussions they were having with RAs recently. “Administration on Friday at 1:06 a.m. sent us a message and cancelled our future meetings,” Waughman said. “They raised our compensation and they seem to think that was the end of the line, but we have a lot of issues regarding security, sexual assault on campus, mental health and I think they thought if they would raise our compensation that we would just stop talking about it.” Senior Grace Miller is attending the event to support the RAs, she said she works as a desk attendant in Kappa so she works closely with RAs. “I’m sympathetic to what they [the RAs] are going through and I think that the administration should listen to what they are asking for because it’s a long time coming,” Miller said. She also said she thought that a peaceful sit in was an effective way for the RAs to get their point across. 11:38 a.m. 11:06 a.m.

Crowd inside office still growing. pic.twitter.com/BLExxHG8wc

— The Western Front (@TheFrontOnline) May 22, 2017

11:03 a.m.

Crowds spreading into hallway, hanging signs. pic.twitter.com/0HObQxC1by

— The Western Front (@TheFrontOnline) May 22, 2017

11:00 a.m. update Western RA’s and student supporters are conducting a sit-in at the office of Leonard Jones, director of University Residences, in an attempt to continue a conversation on RA safety and university accountability that was shut down by Jones last week after a few weeks of dialogue between the RA’s and Western admins. Senior Ben Morgan was passing out posters and pins outside Edens Hall before 10 a.m. with a growing group of about twenty students. “We’ve been working on communication with the department and administration every Friday for the last couple of weeks. On early Friday morning at 5 a.m. we received a message that the remaining issues were not being covered and they were ending all discussion,” Morgan said. “This is us continuing that communication even though they’ve refused it.”   Jones walked into his office in Edens Hall shortly after the RA’s and students entered the space, grabbed his coat, and walked back out the door. Jones is currently sitting down the hall behind the front desk while students remain in his office hoping for a chance to talk. Jones emailed them half an hour into the sit-in and cancelled on a staff meeting with the RA’s scheduled for tomorrow. 10:50 a.m 10:30 a.m.

Sophomores Xana Waughman (left) and Anna Lee (right) standing outside to direct participants inside. Both giving signs to newcomers. pic.twitter.com/UTxoX9JYn4

— The Western Front (@TheFrontOnline) May 22, 2017

#RASitIn pic.twitter.com/QsCO3g72o6

— The Western Front (@TheFrontOnline) May 22, 2017

RAs walk into University Residences for sit in. pic.twitter.com/mEzRxlXoIx

— The Western Front (@TheFrontOnline) May 22, 2017

9:50 a.m. according to their Facebook page. This diagram shows the area they plan to occupy

---