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QUAKER CAMPUS september 28, 2023

The voice of Whittier College since 1914

Volume 22— Issue 3

Restrictions Loosened Amid COVID Pandemic Emily Henderson EDITOR-IN-CHIEF FEATURES EDITOR

CI workers share mixed feelings on the strike.

Emily Henderson / Quaker Campus

CI Workers: What Comes Next? Nia Hurley STAFF WRITER Sarah Licon NEWS EDITOR Last year, a 28-day strike, organized by Campus Inn workers and the Whittier Student Workers Alliance, or WSWA, brought the worker’s struggle to the very forefront of the College’s conscience. The strike, remembered by many students as a time of “confusion,” according to second-year Evan Josten and “togetherness” according to fourth-year Marli Rodriguez, was the longest in United Here Local 11 history, according to WSWA Co-Chair Arlo

Tinsman-Kongshaug. During the strike, many workers did not feel supported by the administration, although many did feel supported by the student body, Tinsman Kongshaug affirmed. The workers who engaged in the strike did so through the local union, Unite Here Local 11, and the strike prompted the Spot to fully close for some of its duration. The Campus Inn, thanks to the majority of students boycotting, was mainly empty. In a Quaker Campus article, Anthropology Professor Dr. Ann K. reported that during the strike, the number of students served at the Spot decreased to about 40 a day, as op-

posed to 400-500 students. The strike was catalyzed when Campus Inn workers reached out to Tinsman-Kongshaug, because they were being paid far less than the statewide industry standard, at 17 to 18 dollars an hour. After 28 days of 12 hour picket line shifts, Bon Appetit finally raised the CI worker’s pay. The Cafeteria workers came to a partial agreement with Bon Appetit in April, the company that contracts them, and have received the six dollar pay raise and overtime pay they went on strike for, but still are denied the pension they requested. According to WSWA Co-Chair ArSee CI Workers on pg. 3

DACA Deemed “Unlawful”

DACA is challenged by Supreme Court. Anna Gaber HEAD COPY EDITOR On Sept. 13, Judge Andrew Hanen of the US District Court for the Southern District of Texas ruled Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) – an administrative relief created during the Obama Administration to protect immigrant children from deportation – unlawful. He deemed that DACA violates the Administrative Procedure Act (APA), which permits administrative agencies the power to propose and establish regulations, and grants US federal courts to oversee all action taken by these agencies. The ruling will not affect any current DACA recipients as they can

manuel ngan / ap getty images

still apply to renew their immunity. New applicants, on the other hand, will be denied. Current recipients must have entered the US before turning 16 years old and have been under 31 years old as of June 15, 2012. They must also have lived in the US for at least five years and be clear of criminal convictions. The Obama Administration established DACA in 2012 in order to protect immigrants who were brought to the US as children from deportation, as well as to provide “DREAMers” – immigrants who were brought to the US as children and have also been enrolled in the US education system – with work permits. The DREAM Act is short for the Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors Act;

intended to create “conditional permanent resident” status, which is valid for up to 10 years, that would protect DREAMers – as well as other DACA beneficiaries – from deportation. The Biden Administration has continually pushed to uphold and strengthen the DACA program since the Obama presidency. In 2021, the same judge – appointed in 2002 by then President George W. Bush – declared the DACA program unconstitutional because “it had not been subject to public notice and comment periods required under the federal Administrative Procedures Act.” There are nearly 600,000 individuals currently enrolled in the DACA program. If they wish to stay in the US under DACA’s wing, “Dreamers” must renew their applications every two years with a renewal cost of $495. The filing fee includes the cost of background checks, a work permit, and fingerprinting. DACA also grants its beneficiaries the option to legally travel to countries outside of the US with no need to obtain a visa. Although current recipients of the program are shielded. This article has been condensed for print. If you woud like to read the full article, visit medium.com/ thequakercampus

Life: Bring It Back: Events of Whittier’s Past Articles: Campus A&E: Post-Apocalyptic Play: Where Words Once Were: Preview

Another wave of COVID-19 hit Los Angeles County, with a 11.99 percent increase in positive cases in the last seven days. Whittier College currently has five cases on campus (one employee and four students), all in isolation either on or off campus, as stated by the COVID-19 Task Force Associate Director Lisa Newton. She continues stating that this is a “typical representation of [Whittier’s] caseload.” With this, on Aug. 29, Interim Dean of Students and Vice President Henry Gee sent out an email to the College community dictating some guidelines for staying healthy during the upcoming academic year. In terms of reporting cases, students, faculty, and employees of the College are not required to complete a health screening, but all are still “required to report a COVID-19 test result or diagnosis.” This complies with the Los Angeles County Department of Health regulations. This can be done through the Student COVID-19 Report Form, which will then provide steps on what to do next. The College states that they will “conduct contact tracing and will notify students of exposure to positive cases,” and “will prioritize high-risk groups and settings.” In regards to group settings, organizations no longer have to ask for permission to curate events and activities for the purpose of COVID-19 tracking. As for testing, the College is now billing students five dollars for a COVID-19 test purchased on campus. Last year, these tests were free. Students can get them at “the Student Health & Wellness Center or, in the coming days, through the campus wellness kiosks located on the Ground Floor of Wardman Library and Harris Residence Hall,” states the email. The College reinforces the regulation that asymptomatic individuals exposed to a case should test between three to five days after the latest exposure, and wear a mask for 10 days. The College also states that they “no longer require testing for symptomatic individuals,” as well as for those who are unvaccinated. The COVID-19 primary vaccination and booster is no longer required by the College, but they do strongly recommend getting it– with an updated vaccine available this autumn. In the matter of isolation, students, faculty and staff who are diagnosed with COVID-19 are required to isolate themselves “regardless of vaccination status, history of infection, or lack of symptoms” for three to five days. After the fifth day, the individual is “required to submit proof of a negative test result to end isolation,” and “be fever-free for at least 24 hours with-

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out fever-reducing medicine AND [have symptoms that are] resolved or are mild and improving.” Residential students that test positive for COVID-19 will be assigned Wanberg Hall for isolation under the Student Health and Wellness Center. Meals will be arranged, and “reasonable efforts” will be made for people who need accommodations. If a student does not wish to isolate on campus, they will be “required to relocate” to an off-campus location option at the student’s cost within four to six hours of the initial test result. Options were not given. Masks are still optional at Whittier College, the only time they are required is 10 days after an individual tests positive or has been exposed to COVID-19. The College does state in their email that “Masking may be reinstated in the event of COVID outbreaks.” For the fall of 2023, nationwide, residents can now get up to four free at-home rapid antigen COVID-19 tests, courtesy of the CDC and the Biden-Harris Administration. Results with the tests are available within 30 minutes, and can be “used for testing whether you are up to date on your COVID-19 vaccines or not.” You can then report the result at makemytestcount.org. Tests are limited to one order per residential address, and orders will start the week of Oct. 2, 2023. You can start ordering tests as early as Sept. 25. If you would like a test, you can fill out a special USPS form at special.usps.com/testkits or call at 1.800.232.0233. An updated COVID-19 vaccine has been widely released, starting the week of Sept. 12. The Center of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) states that receiving a vaccine can “restore protection and provide enhanced protection against the variants currently responsible for most infections and hospitalizations in the United States.” While most people can get the vaccine for free at their local CVS or Walgreens, people who do not have health insurance or have insurance that does not cover the cost can still get the vaccine at their “state, local, tribal, or territorial health department; and pharmacies participating in the CDC’s Bridge Access Program.” Most healthcare providers will provide the vaccine for free. But, people with Kaiser Permanente have been experiencing hardships, namely with not being able to get the vaccine until Sept. 28, or having to pay $155. This is due to the end of the national COVID-19 public health emergency back in May, which made “many Kaiser members not eligible for free shots at non-Kaiser Permanente sites.” This article has been condensed for print. If you woud like to read the full article, visit medium.com/ thequakercampus.