Educational Media Reviews Online

True to its title this documentary film tells it like it was with actual footage of the events during those twenty-one days. Narrated by Ben Affleck the story begins with archival footage of Harvard Yard and focuses on Massachusetts Hall, which housed the offices of the then-current president, Neil Rudenstine. Forty-eight students who had received civil disobedience training during their three-year campaign for a living wage at Harvard occupy the building on April 5, 2001 to protest the lack of a living wage among University service employees. Why are the students and not the workers protesting? As noted by one observer, students could do this and the university would react differently than if the workers protested. Workers could get fired.

“What do we want? A living wage. When do we want it? NOW! ” was the chant for the days the students occupied the building. Interviewed employees lament the long hours and low wages and the students become their heroes because they have taken up the fight to better their lot. The film portrays Harvard as a bastion of corporate greed where board members and administrators are earning huge salaries and reaping benefits while the lowly service employee is barely surviving on this job alone. The occupation succeeds in drawing support from student groups and organized labor groups who rally in support of for the living wage issue and the students. The protest has all the markings of a great media event but at first does not get the attention it warrants. A living wage tent city is constructed on Day Seven. John Sweeny (AFL-CIO) and Senator Edward Kennedy appear at the rally to help the students get the attention they need. Over three hundred Harvard faculty promulgate a petition in support of the students

Despite Rudenstine’s affirmation that he would resign before giving in, an agreement is reached when AFL-CIO negotiators take over the bargaining and the students are promised there would be resolution. Eventually the workers were guaranteed a better wage package along with other benefits. The credits include the web address for the producers, EnMasseFilms, for additional film information.

The melding of real time coverage, archival footage, takeouts from local and national television, supporting commentary from scholars in labor relations and textual statements of workers employed at Harvard allow a lively flow of information that conveys the story and the message. Recommended for courses in social justice and sociology as well as labor relations.