PWR plans April Fools' Day protest

Today, April Fools’ Day, members of Princeton for Workers’ Rights plan to protest the University’s alleged continued investment in HEI Hotels and Resorts by presenting President Shirley Tilghman with thank you cards every hour that commend her, the University Board of Trustees and PRINCO — the Princeton University Investment Company, which manages the University’s endowment — on their attention to ethics and divestment from HEI.

The University has not divested from HEI, PWR members said, but they hope that the irony of their gesture — in conjunction with the nature of the holiday — will raise awareness for their cause.

The University does not routinely disclose the details of its investments.

“It’s a common technique of just raising awareness around the issue, not necessarily through aggressive confrontational means,” Sean Gleason ’09 said. Gleason was a PWR member before he graduated last year, and he has remained involved with the group since then.

Workers with HEI have filed complaints to the National Labor Relations Board alleging that the company coerced workers to prevent unionization.

Company officials have denied the allegations. “HEI is in no way anti-union,” said Jess Petitt, corporate director for sales and marketing for HEI Resorts. He added that “the accusations are unfounded ... and we’re looking forward to a fair and impartial hearing with the National Labor Relations Board.”

Students and administrators at other institutions have also voiced concerns over HEI’s actions. In February, Brown University President Ruth Simmons wrote a letter to HEI expressing the importance of workers’ rights. Yale’s Advisory Committee on Investor Responsibility has said that it may rethink its investment in HEI.

Sierra Gronewald ’11, who helped plan the protest, said that she hopes Tilghman will undertake similar actions.

“We want divestment, but that is not feasible,” Gronewald said, adding that the group hopes to persuade Tilghman to “take action, either as an individual or on behalf of the University.”

Gronewald explained that the group resolved to approach Tilghman at times other than her regular office hours because she has grown more “abrupt and curt” as more PWR members have visited her during those times.

Gronewald said the group believed it was time to escalate its tactics, meeting at a time that was “purposeful and appropriate” to elicit action.

Gleason echoed Gronewald’s sentiments.

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“At office hours, we’re meeting on Tilghman’s terms,” he said. “[For this protest], we’re showing we can work outside the system, work on our own terms, agitate and disrupt.”