Jahmara Jordan, 25, a cook in Connecticut College’s Harris Dining Hall, leads a group of students, staff and faculty Thursday, Dec. 14, 2023, outside Fanning Hall, an office building that houses the president’s office. (Tyrell Wright/Today Special)
NEW LONDON — After a spring of protest that led to the resignation of former Connecticut College President Katherine Bergeron, the campus has been quiet — for the most part — as the search for the next president continues.
But new voices demanding change are beginning to emerge on campus, this time directed at college employees. On Thursday, 350 students, faculty and staff joined the college’s dining services employees in a walkout to demand that the college recognize their union.
New voices are rising
Unite Here Local 217, a hospitality union in Connecticut, said the college is underpaid and overworked food service employees. The union said more than 70% of food service workers have signed union cards and are demanding that the college voluntarily recognize their union.
A press release from UNITE HERE Local 217 said unionized dining staff at Trinity College in Hartford earn $23 to $28 an hour and enjoy employer-paid health care and pensions year-round.
According to several members of the dining hall service, longtime cooks at Connecticut College earn less than $25 an hour, and benefits such as health care are deducted from their salaries.
Jahmara Jordan, 25 years old, works as a cook in the college cafeteria. Jordan, who grew up in New London, said her family worked at the college. She worked for six years alongside her mother, Kim, who joined her daughter Thursday to strike for the union.
Jahmara Jordan said the only way to afford necessities was to work overtime to supplement her hourly wage of $19.44. Earlier this month, she said she worked seven days a week to make ends meet.
“I can buy an apartment, but I can’t buy a car,” Jahmara Jordan said. “Even when I do overtime. How do I do so much overtime, but I can’t afford the everyday things we need? Not the things we want to have, these things we actually need.”
Connecticut College’s interim president, Leslie Wong, said during a recent interview that he believes unionization can be a teaching moment for both sides. Coming from heavily unionized colleges, he looked favorably on efforts by food service workers to voice their demands, saying that sometimes, “you don’t get that opportunity if you’re not negotiating.”
“Maybe I’m a rare person, but I don’t see unions and workers as a threat. I see it as an invitation to healthy debate.”
Dining services staff are encouraged by the support of the college community. Expressing gratitude for Wong’s sentiments and student support, Jahmara Jordan expressed confidence in their union being recognized.
“You experience an emotional response because it is a display of flow [of] “Community supports,” Thomas Emsky, 60, a fellow chef at Connecticut College, said in response to Jordan’s grunt.
New leadership restores confidence
Under Wong’s leadership, the college has mostly returned to normal compared to last semester, when students protested the resignation of former Dean of Institutional Equity and Inclusion Rodmon King.
Classes remained uninterrupted, and students were largely uninvolved in protest efforts. As tensions rise on campuses across the country over the war between Israel and Hamas, Connecticut College has not seen the same division over the issue.
“I think things are back to somewhat normal, but people are still looking to work and get things done,” said Luis Rodriguez, associate director at the Holleran Center for Community Action and Public Policy.
Students and faculty on campus described Wong’s demeanor as friendly and outgoing. Connecticut College is his first experience leading a private college.
His Chinese-Mexican heritage makes him the college’s first president of color. After retirement, Wong, 73, served as president of Northern Michigan State University from 2004 to 2012. He retired from San Francisco State University in 2019, where he served as president for 11 years. Wong received his doctorate from Washington State University where he studied psychology.
The college has hired WittKieffer, an executive search firm, to find its next president. According to the college’s website, the company worked alongside faculty, staff and two students to find candidates throughout the semester.
Now, a group of interviewers made up of Wong, students, faculty, staff and trustees will interview the finalists. The decision will be made in March.
The college community wants a president who is engaged and transparent, Wong said.
“They want someone who thinks on their feet. They want someone who manages people, someone who is comfortable being transparent. To be the head of a public or private organization.” [college] Challenging at the moment…I think [next] “The president must be flexible but also charismatic,” he said.
Wong’s interim term is expected to end in early 2024. He plans to retire again after the search is completed. But before it’s over, Wong has a vision that he hopes will define his short time in college.
“Friendly boss”
Wong seeks to bring school morale back to campus following Bergeron’s departure. By attending school events and being more transparent about policies, Wong said he believes he can instill confidence in faculty, staff and students.
“You are well aware that the spring was an upsetting time. My goal was to rebuild trust in the school again and mostly to rebuild trust in each other and improve morale. And I think there are signs of that happening.”
His efforts seem to be successful so far as seen by the sentiment of the students and faculty. Many students and faculty said they find Wong more available and easier to find than his predecessor.
“I think he’s pushing us in the right direction and trying to set us up for the next direction [college president] “It was very good,” said Ian Hopkins, 20, a third-year student at Connecticut College studying film.
Hopkins was one of 28 students who occupied Fanning Hall in February earlier this year and now serves as vice president of the Student Government Association. He said he saw Wong actively participating in school events and student films.
“He feels very accessible,” Hopkins said.
Wong believes one of his strengths comes from his ability to listen and invite differing opinions. He likened himself to a point guard in basketball, a role that requires passing the ball and helping his teammates.
“I rarely think of myself as the best mind at the table. I’m not arrogant at all,” Wong said.
There is more to be done
Despite the improvements, some students said the college did not do enough for students from marginalized backgrounds. The college has not replaced King permanently since his resignation in February. Nakia Hamlett serves as Interim Dean of Institutional Equity and Inclusion.
Laila Maree, 20, an Arab-American and student at Connecticut College, said she believes little concrete action has been taken, such as more funding and institutional support for diversity programs and initiatives.
“I think in terms of campus awareness, there are a lot of students who have been involved in SVE [Student Voices for Equity] Last semester I worked really hard. Everyone did their best. But how much tangible change have we actually made, other than convincing President Bergeron to resign? Maree said.
Although Maree said there is more work to be done, they appreciate that Wong has made strides toward more transparency and accessibility for students on campus. Maree hopes the school’s next president will show the same engagement and enthusiasm for connecting with students as Wong.
“I feel like Bergeron was just a very performative person in the way she interacted with students,” they said. “I want someone who attends community events like President Wong does. He was more involved in community events, specifically with affinity groups.
Bergeron resigned after months of demonstrations by various groups on campus and a vote of no confidence in the college’s faculty. Calls for Bergeron’s resignation began after King resigned in protest of the college holding an event at a Florida country club with a history of racism and anti-Semitism.
t.wright@theday.com
The atmosphere at Cone College has noticeably shifted in the aftermath of the president’s ouster, resulting in a considerably quieter semester. With the departure of the former president, the campus has been abuzz with discussions and reflections on the impact of the change in leadership. Students and faculty alike are adjusting to the new developments, and the once bustling campus seems to have settled into a more subdued rhythm. As the college community navigates this significant transition, there is a sense of anticipation and curiosity about what the future holds for Cone College.