As part of a lecture series at Oregon State University, renowned Canadian author Margaret Atwood was set to speak in front of 1,200 people on Tuesday.
However, Atwood said that anonymous threats of violence forced the event to be held online, according to The Daily Barometer.
Rob Odom, an OSU representative, told The Oregonian/OregonLive that the transfer was confirmed but merely ascribed to unanticipated events.
Before her presentation, Atwood wrote a statement to striking graduate students on the Corvallis campus, with whom she had been in contact through representatives. Participants said she then read it during the event’s live-streamed version.
The full statement from Margaret Atwood, as reported by the Coalition of Graduate Employees, AFT Local 6069, is as follows:
GRAD STUDENT TA STRIKE AT OREGON STATE UNIVERSITY
Moreover, my event on November 19
From my planet, greetings to all Oregonites:
On my birthday, I traveled for fourteen hours to arrive in Portland. At my age, it’s okay to ignore it.
There appears to be a strike by graduate students demanding better pay and a shorter contract that does not bind them for five years. I’ve been informed that a settlement is near and that many things have been agreed upon.
I wouldn’t uninvitedly cross a picket line. I had the choice to cancel, according to the university. On the other side, the strikers said that canceling or interfering with the concert would have hurt their case by driving away 1200 people. Their sole goal is to raise awareness of their cause. I am assisting them in doing so, as you can see. They have a webpage at [email protected] where people can donate food and other items.
However, I would prefer not to put live-event attendees in danger, thus I will be conducting the event via live-stream instead of in person due to anonymous threats of violence.
The parties, as far as I can determine, are in agreement: Graduate student teachers support their own eating. You can see their point given how much food prices have increased. Although the institution has offered some raises, they are not commensurate with the rising cost of living. I can attest to some of the cheap garbage one consumes on a very tight budget because I was a graduate student once, a very long time ago, before face piercings, and when female students had to wear skirts to class. Do you want to know how to make my healthy dish of potatoes, onions, and wiener? No. You don’t.
The institution supports fiscal discipline and the ability to allocate and report on its prudent use of government and donor monies. You can also see their point: debt will result from over spending. However, they effectively won’t have a university if they don’t have any graduate student teaching assistants.
I hope everything works out well for all parties. A successful negotiation is one in which neither party gets everything they desire, according to the negotiating classic Getting to Yes. Additionally, the oracle hinted that the future federal government did not see universities favorably. Before then, finish it. And take cover beneath the table.
Warmest regards and best of luck,
Atwood, Margaret
Editor Beth Slovic works on the breaking news and public safety team. You can contact her at [email protected] or 503-221-8551.
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