SDS organizers left the University of Utah for spring break in high spirits after the school met their demands for more mental health counselors, a demand they had been making for months. When the promised new counselors are hired, the school will finally be in compliance with national guidelines on the counselor-to-student ratio.

Celebrations were short lived, however.

During the break, Utah officials finally grasped the seriousness of COVID-19, completely upending student life and creating a host of new challenges. The university quickly shut down the campus and moved all classes online.

Administrators initially assured students that they could stay in campus housing, but the school soon backtracked and announced that most students would be required to move out on March 27, just five days before landlords generally start new leases. While the university allowed some to apply for exceptions, most were forced to move out with little notice.

“The evictions are based on an assumption that people have somewhere to go when that is not always true, and it’s especially difficult to relocate right now,” said student Theresa Nielson. “U of U housing is basically an apartment complex: You can still isolate. It just doesn’t make any sense.”

On March 24, SDS organized call-ins to President Ruth Watkins and Vice President of Student Affairs Lori McDonald to demand no students be evicted. Administrators told callers that the forced move-outs were not “evictions” because rent and meal plans were being prorated and refunded.

Regardless of administrative semantics, students were kicked out nonetheless. Queer students were forced back to families that misgendered them; others went home to high-risk cities and states; still others returned to parents working high-risk jobs in healthcare.

Though the university has made drastic changes toward protecting students, staff and faculty, it is disregarding many mental health, safety and financial issues. The university has extended its class withdrawal period, but refuses to refund tuition for students who withdraw, even for those who can’t accommodate online classes. The school has shut down many buildings on campus, but students and staff still work without personal protective equipment or hazard pay. And because the campus is shut down, many services are not being provided, despite being paid for by student fees.

In response, SDS is demanding hazard pay for all on-campus workers, tuition refunds for withdrawals, and refunds for all student-fee-related services that are not being rendered. These echo demands being made on campuses across the country.

SDS organizers also reiterated their commitment to mental health services both during pandemic and after students return, saying it will be more important than ever for students who have lived through a deeply traumatic time to have access to counselors.

“Counseling availability is always important because mental health resources are a human right, Nielson said. “Right now, with more uncertainty and stress, it is especially important to have these resources available.”

The University of Utah says it is working to provide counseling to students living out of state. SDS says it will continue to monitor the situation, and if counseling is not provided during the pandemic, it will expand its demands.

#SaltLakeCityUT #Healthcare #PeoplesStruggles #UtahSDS #UniversityOfUtah

Salt Lake City, UT – University of Utah Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) gathered outside the Marriott Library, Nov. 15, to host a campaign kick-off event for their upcoming anti-war campaign.

SDS members held banners that read “No to Israeli apartheid” and “No to the border wall” while other members distributed flyers. The goal of the event was to build publicity for the beginning of their anti-war effort, starting with a demand for the university to boycott of Sabra and Bobcat – two corporations that are complicit with the Israeli apartheid regime.

#SaltLakeCityUT #AntiwarMovement #StudentsForADemocraticSociety #UniversityOfUtah

Salt Lake City, UT – 70 students and community members gathered to support the local chapter of Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) of the University of Utah, Oct. 6, to raise money for the SDS National Convention in Santa Barbara, California.

The fundraiser was held at Diabolical Records with live music from individual musicians and popular local bands such as Baby Ghosts. Raffle prizes comprised of books donated by the Freedom Road Socialist Organization and Ken Sanders Rare Books, art prints from local artists, gift cards, and DIY crafts made by local SDSers.

“Being able to network and connect with other organizers is vital to the success of our efforts as activists. Going to the national convention to meet with other SDS chapters to review and revise our methods is incredibly important if we want to make a real, substantial change,” said Megan Faye Barnhurst, one of the hosts. The fundraiser was a success, raising $1100 that will go for travel to the convention.

#SaltLakeCityUT #StudentsForADemocraticSociety #UniversityOfUtah

Salt Lake City – 400 people gathered to protest Ben Shapiro’s speaking spot, Sept. 27, on the University of Utah Campus. The protest was led by Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) and Black Lives Matter-SLC with the demand that hate speech has no place on campus and would be met with counter-protest. Ian Decker of SDS wrote a letter to the editor of the Salt Lake Tribune and said, “We have no shame in saying that we intend to shut down Ben Shapiro.”

Ben Shapiro is an infamous right-wing conservative and a former editor-at-large of Breitbart News. He has called transgender people mentally ill, he is against marriage equality, and recently defended conversion therapy targeting gay people.

Lex Scott of Black Lives Matter commented, “Racism in 2017 looks very much like a white man rationalizing the death of a black man at the hands of police…Ben Shapiro is a racist and to you he may look like a more subtle racist, and therefore you excuse it. We won’t.”

The rally marched through the University of Utah campus to where Shapiro was speaking. The protesters were met with dozens of police surrounding the building, protecting Shapiro. The rally continued and people chanted, “U of U let's be clear, Shapiro is not welcome here!” as hundreds gathered to hear speeches.

Shapiro watched the rally while guarded by police behind a barricade. Later he started his speech defensively reading SDSer Ian Decker's letter and poorly responding to it. Half way through his event, Shapiro’s microphone cut out and the chants from outside could be heard clearly.

Decker wrapped up the rally saying, “Ben Shapiro represents the status quo of war, racism and poverty. We don't owe the status quo a respectful discussion and platform. That's why we're here today.” The attendees marched back together to President's Circle and ended the rally on a high note.

#SaltLakeCityUT #SDS #Antiracism #BlackLivesMatter #BenShapiro #UniversityOfUtah