A graduate student union at Yale University started a symbolic hunger strike outside of the university president’s home Tuesday, stating “when one of us cannot continue, come take our place.”

The strike, conducted to encourage the university to start collective bargaining, is spearheaded by eight members of the Local 33 graduate student union, reports Yale Daily News.

“Instead of eating your lunch, sit with us and lift our spirits,” reads a pamphlet distributed by the group. “When one of us cannot continue, come take our place.”

“We want our Fast to inspire joy … the joy that comes from taking action for what is just."


Local 33 is a contingent of UNITE HERE, an international labor union which, earlier in April, commanded Yale to start labor negotiations on Tuesday. Last week, two more departments in Yale’s Graduate School of Arts and Sciences unionized as a result of the effort, raising the total number from six to eight.

“The University cannot compel anyone to refrain from this activity, but strongly urges that students not put their health at risk or encourage others to do so,” Yale spokesman Tom Conroy told Yale Daily News. Conroy also called the bargaining request premature and termed the hunger strike “unwarranted by the circumstances.”

Nope. Hippy behavior is still hippy behavior. Hopefully a cop beats them all with a baton.

you need a new gimmick