McCormick takes a sour situation, makes lemonade

Protesters on UW President Richard McCormick's front lawn supporting TAs unionization stopped short Thursday afternoon at the appearance of a man wearing a crisp white button-up shirt, tie and a knee-length apron.

Alan Doyle, an employee of the household, offered the protesters a silver tray bearing Dixie cups of lemonade. He explained that the president was caught in traffic.

"Dr. McCormick called and asked us to serve the people who were demonstrating," Doyle said.

After taking and drinking the lemonade, the protesters began chant, "We want real pay, not lemonade." McCormick, who arrived home shortly after, chuckled at the chant.

"They took it, they just didn't want it," he said.

Leaders from several major groups on campus protested, including the ASUW, Moviemiento Estudiantil Chicano de Aztlan, VOX: Voices for Planned Parenthood and Affordable Tuition Now! (ATN!).

All the protesters were undergraduate UW students, except for one representative from the American Federation of State and County Municipal Employees:Doug Neilson. He expressed his concern over the widespread state-level budget crunch, and the cuts it had caused.

"Basically, anything that doesn't contribute to corporate profits is cut," Neilson said. "I think we need to change the priorities. It's time for a U-turn."

Most protesters limited their slogans and chants to the immediate issue of a strike by members of Graduate Student Employee Action Coalition, affiliated with the United Auto Workers (GSEAC/UAW).

"We're here to demonstrate the difference between the living conditions of McCormick and the living conditions of the TAs," said ATN! member Noah Purcell, just before McCormick pulled into the driveway in his red convertible. He was late for a reception including members of his cabinet and deans at the UW.

McCormick, standing uphill from the visible circle trampled into his front lawn by the protesters, supported the demonstration.

"I think it's fine. The president's house is the traditional place for students to express their views," he said.

Strike negotiations between the UW and GSEAC/UAW continued as of the protest time on Thursday. McCormick called exclusivity -- whether to recognize GSEAC/UAW as the lone bargaining body for every TA, research assistant and researcher on campus -- the main sticking point in the arguments.

"TAs will be getting raises the first of July," McCormick assured. "We just don't know the amount."

He continued to say the exclusivity issue was the only one requiring specific legislation at the state level. If GSEAC/UAW agrees to the contract as is, exclusivity would be attainable in the 2002 legislative session.

Protesters maintain the UW does not need legislation to grant exclusivity, despite a recent statement by Washington Attorney General Christine Gregoire to the contrary.

McCormick also sported a black eye which he said he got playing squash, to Thursday's protest.

"I wish I could tell you that I got it in an altercation with protesters," McCormick joked.