Strike vote at Lesley "was just inevitable"

https://www.cambridgeday.com/2026/04/18/strike-vote-lesley-inevitable/

While no date was set, faculty could act before the end of term. Members of the Lesley community feel bittersweet.

by Chinanu Okoli
Saturday, April 18, 2026

Jay Rowell has a soft spot for Lesley University, where he’s a film student. He feels his school has provided him a lot of opportunity to learn and connect with others.

But he also said the quality of life on campus has declined in his three years there. Meal swipes, his access to dining facilities, have been reduced. Resources for his peers who study photography have disappeared. Professors have to teach more classes with more students. The “magic” Rowell said he once experienced has faded.

“I don’t even feel like I’m here for education at this point,” Rowell said. “I feel like I’m here now to help make it a better place.” He’s gotten more involved with trying to improve student life, including as part of a group of students trying to make their voices heard by reviving a defunct student government board. It’s taken substantial time, to the point where he said “I feel like, now, I almost work at Lesley.”

Instead of helping restore student government, he said administrators ignored student concerns and instead established a “community life leadership council.” He is on the council, but said it doesn’t allow him and other students to advocate for themselves. “I plan pizza parties,” he said. “It is such an affront and offense to me as someone who has been talking to these people and trying to get a student government up and running since fall semester my sophomore year.”

FULL story at link above.


One of the protests held at Lesley University in Cambridge since the announcement of layoffs and program trimmings. This one was Oct. 15, 2024. Credit: Marc Levy / file