Friday, January 27th, SSNers brought together over 40 students and Hyde Park residents for a two-part event: an Action/Reception spotlighting the campaign to guarantee the right to organize for Hyatt workers at the Harper Court development.  The Action took place at 53rd and Harper, in front of the construction site.  Two students staged the roles of Bobby Bureaucrat and Una Percenta, parodying the university and developers to call attention to the terms of the dialogue surrounding the development.  Their antics were interrupted by a Hyatt worker from Unite Here! Local 1, as well as invited guests from FLY and SSN.  Pastor Kim Beckman of Augustana Lutheran Church led the crowd in a community takeover, demanding a space for community dialogue.

Immediately following the Action, students walked back to the Southside Hub of Production (SHoP) for the Reception.  Food and drinks were served as students and community residents mingled.  The reception included a panel of people from Unite Here! Local 1 and SSN, detailing the current situation facing the Justice at Hyatt campaign and giving a call-to-action to the audience.  SHoP will continue to host events aimed to bring together different student groups and community residents, to discuss shared concerns about the university’s relationship to the community.

For Costumed Activists, All the Court’s a Stage (Chicago Maroon)

Hyde Park Herald, Feb 1, 2012, Vol. 130 Issue 5 (credit: Marc Monaghan)