PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — Award-winning Canadian author Margaret Atwood was set to address an audience at Oregon State University Tuesday night. However, a last-minute decision was made to hold the event virtually due to “anonymous threats of violence,” according to Atwood.
OSU spokesperson Rob Odom confirmed the event’s shift to online, but referred to the reason as “unforeseen circumstances.”
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Nonetheless, over 2,100 people tuned in to the livestream at the peak of the event, according to the university.
Additionally, Atwood, who had recently become aware of an ongoing strike involving OSU graduate teaching assistants, even sent the Coalition of Graduate Employees, AFT Local 6069 a statement in solidarity, while also briefly addressing the event’s cancelation:
Hello Orengonites, and Greetings from my Planet:
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Here I am in Portland, having travelled for 14 hours to get here (on my birthday! It’s okay, at my age, best to ignore it).
It seems there is a graduate student strike going on, for higher wages and a shorter contract that won’t lock people in for 5 years. I am told that many items have been agreed upon and that a settlement is close.
I wouldn’t cross a picket line uninvited. The University gave me the option of cancelling. The strikers, on the other hand, said they didn’t want to cancel or disrupt the event – thereby p*ssing off 1200 people, which would not have helped their position. They only want to gain attention for their cause. As you can see, I am helping them do that. They have a website for donations of food etc. at; vp_solidarity@cge6069.org
However, late-breaking news: due to anonymous threats of violence, I’ll be doing the event via live-stream rather than in person, as I would not wish to endanger live-event audience members.
As far as I can tell, the sides are aligned thus: The grad student teachers are in favour of themselves eating. With the cost of food having gone up so much, you can see their point. The university has offered increases, but (say some) not in line with the rise in cost of living. Having been a grad student once, a long, long, time ago, before face piercings, back when female students had to wear skirts to class, I can testify to some of the cheap crap one eats on a very limited budget. Want the recipe for my nourishing potato, onion, and wiener casserole? No. You don’t.
The university is in favour of fiscal responsibility and of being able to apportion and account for its responsible spending of donor and government funds. You can see their point, too: if they overspend, debt will ensue. But if they don’t have any grad student TAs, they essentially won’t have a university.
I wish both sides a successful outcome. According to the negotiating classic, Getting to Yes, a good negotiation is one in which neither side ends up with everything it wants. And a hint from the oracle: the incoming federal government does not have warm, friendly feelings towards universities. Get it done before then. And hide under the table.
Very best wishes and good luck,
Margaret Atwood
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