ASM Calls for UW to Fire Rich Yaeger
Posted: 2020-11-13 16:46:58 Expiration: 2050-11-22 02:46:58
Associated Students of Madison
333 East Campus Mall, 4301 Student Activity Center, Madison, WI
Website: asm.wisc.edu Phone: 608/265-4ASM
E-mail: press@asm.wisc.edu
ASM Calls for UW to Fire Rich Yaeger
MADISON, WI — The Associated Students of Madison (ASM) condemns the harassment, assault, hate, and threats that University of Wisconsin-Madison Senior Power Plant Operator, Rich Yaeger, incited toward students who were peacefully protesting on November 6, 2020. Under no circumstance should the University tolerate this type of behavior.
We call on Vice Chancellor of Finance & Administration, Laurent Heller, Chief Human Resources Officer, Mark Walters, and Chancellor, Rebecca Blank, to take action and discipline against Rich Yaeger - who is under their collective supervision. This represents another individual under Vice Chancellor Heller’s discretion that yet again has actively worked to suppress the student voice.
Student testimony, video evidence, and posts by Rich Yaeger on his personal blog and social media demonstrate his lack of remorse for running over human beings on a motorcycle. Additionally, Rich Yaeger’s social media has racist rheotric and white supremacist ideologies which creates a hostile environment at the University.
ASM is an organization that at large advocates on behalf of students. Student safety and well-being is a priority of this organization and this incident jeopardizes students’ physical and mental health. We hold the university to a zero tolerance standard for hateful rhetoric, white supremacy, and physical violence. ASM encourages people to speak out against acts of hate. We pledge to continue creating a campus that is a safe and welcoming space for all students.
ASM demands the University immediately places Rich Yaeger on unpaid leave and subsequently terminates him without severance. Additionally, ASM implores Chancellor Blank and her Vice Chancellors to release a statement condemning violence against their students.
Any action otherwise is an insult to the students who experienced violence at the hands of this individual.
We demand justice.
In solidarity,
Matthew Mitnick - he/him/his
Chair
Aerin Leigh Lammers - she/her/hers
Vice Chair
Brandon Springer - he/him/his
Equity & Inclusion Committee Chair
Emma Cline - she/her/hers
Outreach Director
Ellen Abad Santos - she/her/hers
Vote Coordinator
Kevin Jacobson - he/him/his
Shared Governance Campaign Director
Crystal Zhao - she/her/hers
Diverse Engagement Coordinator
Robyn George- she/her/hers
Legislative Affairs Committee Chair
Katie McGlasson - she/her/hers
Shared Governance Chair
Samuel Jorudd - he/him/his
Grant Allocation Committee Chair
Emma Hoff - she/her/hers
Student Council Representative
Kylan Bartel - he/him/his
Student Council Representative
Chris Unterberger - he/him/his
Student Council Representative
Lennox Owino - he/him/his
Nominations Board Chair
Brian Li - he/him/his
Student Council Representative
Robbie Manuel - he/him/his
Student Council Representative
Jacob Broehm - he/him/his
Press Office Director
Marybeth McGinnis - she/her/hers
Student Council Representative
-- Associated Students of Madison: Jacob Broehm