The #LaborBeavs Platform:

1. Student Jobs: Better Pay and Working Conditions
   We will budget and advocate for a living wage, adjusted for the cost of living in Corvallis, for all student workers (at or above the inflation-adjusted value of prior years’ wages). We will also support more frequent pay periods, flexible working hours with opportunities for a sufficient and stable income, affordable healthcare, and benefits.

2. Tuition and Fees Affordability: Education for Everyone
   The cost of attendance at Oregon’s public universities has grown too high. Through ASOSU’s role in setting the student incidental fee, we will review fee budgets to minimize excess or unused student fee dollars and prioritize student services. At the university, state, and federal level, we will use our resources to advance the cause of access to higher education for all, without the burden of years of debt.

3. Social Justice and Equity: Building an Inclusive Community
   We will continue to support previous years’ advocacy for the pilot International and Disabled Students’ Cultural Lounges, and ensure these programs are not cut or discontinued. We will coordinate outreach to cultural affinity groups to understand the unique needs of the student body, rather than waiting for students to come to us.

4. Institutional Accountability: Amplifying Student Voices
   At its best, shared governance improves checks and balances and democratizes university decision-making processes. We will advocate to expand the involvement of students in university governance, including in decisions relating to tuition and fees. Student body election turnout has historically been low. We will develop elections and outreach infrastructure to represent as many students as possible.

5. Environmental Sustainability and Climate Justice: Taking Action Today
   In addition to being a public institution with a significant emissions impact, OSU has among the largest potential impacts on climate research and policy in Oregon. Mitigating the disparate impacts of environmental degradation and climate change requires directly assisting the community. We support efforts to this end, including an overnight shelter protocol for instances of extreme weather in Corvallis.