Prouty's Corner
A Brush With Reality


William Prouty

The living wage is a glorious, egalitarian, and ultimately doomed effort; much like socialism and communism. I would never fault a person for caring for their fellow man; it is both noble and respectable, but feasibility should be the basis for all policies. Who are the recipients of the quasi-living wage that was so recently instituted at American University? They are people who likely did not graduate college and have limited job skills. Do these people understand the high-minded efforts undertaken on their behalf? This is the question that I attempted to answer and my answer is questionable at best. I decided to ask directly a few AU workers their thoughts on their recent victory in attaining a quasi-living wage.

The first gentleman I asked was one of the garbage workers, the people who were most affected by the new policy; the answer I got was only incoherent mumbling. I asked him several questions beginning with what his name was and not a single one of the answers was distinguishable as English.

I am not making fun of this person by any measure, I am simply stating the encounter I had, but maybe what was not said answered several of my questions anyway. First of all this gentleman did have limited English skills yet still seemed to adequately do his job of taking garbage out of the residence halls. I was glad to see that he was doing a job and earning a living, I applaud anyone who does a hard day's work to earn a living. I doubt he understands the nature or the theories behind the living wage.

The motivation derived from this increased pay will likely not lead to more efficient work; yet it will lead to increased costs to an already over-taxed and debt-ridden student body. The other person I questioned about their thoughts on the living wage was able to answer my questions but the answers have not led me to as many conclusions. Just like the first person I questioned the second knew little of the wage policy. I asked them if they understood the idea of a living wage that will allow a person to live in an area with a higher cost of living while still working an hourly paid service sector job. While she told me she did not understand all the political issues involved she did say that "anything that puts more money in my pocket is a good thing."

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I thought about the answers I got but still have not established if these people's standard of living or their productivity has increased. I know I still hear people complaining about the student loans they will have to pay off, and how little money they have in their pockets. A few people have even complained to me about how Aramark workers take over their lounges for long breaks; the quasi-living wage has not changed these problems.

While a few hundred more dollars a semester may not be much to some it is to others. I have not yet witnessed a dramatic increase in service, or happiness in the workers I encounter on a daily basis. I still honor and respect them for helping to keep this university running, and I still chat with them on occasion about various subjects.

I feel sorry for the people who have to take out loans, and I think of all the interest they will have to pay upon graduating. On a closing note, I have talked to numerous graduates through my work at AU's Phone-a-thon, and I have gotten numerous people who refuse to donate due to their student load debts. Many people complain one of the reasons we have such a low endowment rate is because of the financial situations of the graduates. Increasing the endowments by alumni would go further towards turning American into a first tier school. By giving the administration a blank check to increase tuition for egalitarian purposes we may very well be sacrificing a brighter future for this university.