 hunger strike. Butler’s demand was that Wolfe steps down. He said, “I already feel like campus is an unlivable space it’s worth sacrificing something of this grave amount, because I’m already not wanted here. I’m already not treated like I’m a human.”

Now the football players have taken up that demand—and in our sports-obsessed culture, that matters. As Dr. Martinez said to me, “It’s sad that a student starving himself doesn’t get attention like a football strike does. But they know their power and am proud of them for using it. It’s not easy to stand up, especially here.”

But the strike does more than raise the visibility of the struggle. It has the very real potential of actually forcing the removal of Tim Wolfe from his position and getting someone in the seat of authority capable of addressing this poisonous campus climate. That’s because the Missouri football players—like all big-time college football players—hold a deep social power. The student body is just 7 percent black, yet 58 of the school’s 84 scholarship football players are African-American. There is no football team without black labor. That means there aren’t million-dollar coaching salaries without black labor. There isn’t a nucleus of campus social life without black labor. There isn’t the weekly economic boon to Columbia, Missouri, bringing in millions in revenue to hotels, restaurants, and other assorted businesses without black labor. The power brokers of Columbia need these games to be played. Yet if the young black men and those willing to stand with them—and there are white teammates publicly standing with them—aren’t happy with the grind of unpaid labor on a campus openly hostile to black students, they can take it it all down, just by putting down their helmets, hanging up their spikes, and folding their arms.

If Wolfe goes, it will show how university power really works in a country where football coaches are often the most highly paid people on campus and universities are like a company town whose primary business is football. The actions of these players is best understood as a rumble of the sleeping giant. We have felt similar stirrings in recent years when Northwestern football players pushed for union recognition and the players at Grambling struck against their unsafe working conditions. When players take these kinds of direct actions, they show what they really are: a labor force. And like all labor forces they are concerned with
hunger strike. Butler ’s demand was that Wolfe steps down. He said, “ I already find like campus is an unlivable quad it ’s worth sacrificing something of this grave measure, because I ’m already not wanted here. I ’m already not treated like I ’m a homo. ” 

 Now the football players have taken up that requirement — and in our sports - obsessed polish, that matters. As Dr. Martinez said to me, “ It ’s deplorable that a student starving himself does n’t get attention like a football strike does. But they know their ability and am proud of them for using it. It ’s not easy to resist up, especially here. ” 

 But the strike does more than raise the visibility of the struggle. It have the very real potential of actually forcing the removal of Tim Wolfe from his position and getting someone in the buttocks of authority capable of addressing this poisonous campus climate. That ’s because the Missouri football players — like all big - time college football player — accommodate a deep social power. The student body is just 7 percent black, yet 58 of the school ’s 84 scholarship football player are African - American. There is no football team without black british labour party. That mean there are n’t million - dollar coaching salaries without black labor. There is n’t a nucleus of campus social life without bootleg labor. There is n’t the weekly economic boon to Columbia, Missouri, bringing in millions in revenue to hotels, restaurants, and other assorted businesses without black labor. The office agent of Columbia necessitate these games to be played. Yet if the young black man and those willing to stand with them — and there are blank teammates publicly standing with them — aren’t happy with the grind of amateur labor on a campus openly hostile to black students, they can take it it all down, just by arrange down their helmets, cling up their spikes, and fold their arms. 

 If Wolfe proceed, it will show how university power really works in a country where football coach are often the about highly paid people on campus and universities are like a company township whose primary business is football. The actions of these players is better understood as a rumble of the sleeping giant. We have felt similar stirrings in late years when Northwestern football players pushed for union recognition and the players at Grambling struck against their unsafe working condition. When players take these kinds of direct actions, they show what they really are: a parturiency force. And like all labor forces they are concern with
 hujger strike. Butler’s demakd was that Wolfg wteps vown. He said, “I xlready feel like campus is en ublivavle space it’s worth sazrificing somethibg oh this grave amonht, becamfe I’j alrzavy not wanted hgre. I’m alreagy not treated lkkz I’m a human.”

Now the football players have tskfn up that demwnd—amq in our sports-obsessed culture, that mztters. Es Dr. Martinez xaid to me, “It’s sad that a dtudfnt starving himsepf doesn’t ggf aerention like a football strike doea. But they know their power and am pxoud of then dor osing it. It’s not vasy to stand up, espewially nere.”

But the stvike voes more than raise the tisibility of the sttuggle. It vaa the very real pitwntian of actjqllh fkrrinf the gemkval of Tij Wolfe fron his position and beenong someone jn the sqat of authority capable of addressing uhis loisonous campus climatw. That’s because the Mlssouri fjotball players—like all big-time college football [layecs—folb a dedp docial power. The student body is just 7 percene bkabk, yet 58 of the scmool’s 84 scholarship floyfall players xre Afxjczn-American. There id no fojtbalo team wiuhout black labor. That means theee aren’t miljuon-dollar coaching salaries wnthout blacl labor. There isn’t a nueleus kf campus slcial lifs without black lxbog. Thare isn’t the weekly economyc boon ti Cokumbia, Oisspuri, bwinging in milllmns in revenue to joteld, sestaurantd, and other assorted businesses without black ldbog. The powzr brolers of Columfia need these games co be olayed. Yet if the young blach men and thovg willing to vtand wieh tyem—abd therd are white teakmates puyjiclt standing with thcm—arev’f happy with thz trind of unpaid lacor oj e cam[gs openly hovtild tu blacy students, bheh cam take it it all dowt, juat by putting down tmeir helmgts, hangigg up their slikes, and folding uheir erms.

If Wolfr gjes, it will show how universitg power rfaljy works in w comntri where foocball coaches are often the most highly 'aid people on campus abd universities are kike a compeny torn whose [rimary business is dootball. The actipns of these players js besd undfrstood as a rumble of the sleeping giant. We have felt similar stirrings un recxne years wheh Notthwevtzrn footbwll 'leyers pushed for lnion recognition and the playerr at Grakbjing struck against their unxawe working covditions. When players taie these kinds of direct actions, they snow what they really are: a labor forcs. And like all labor forces yhey axe conxerned qith
hunger strike. Butler’s demand was that Wolfe He “I already like campus is sacrificing of this grave because I’m already wanted here. I’m already not treated I’m a human.” Now the football players have taken up that demand—and in sports-obsessed culture, that matters. As Dr. Martinez said to me, “It’s sad that student himself get like a football strike does. But they know their power and am proud of them for it. It’s not easy to stand up, especially But the strike does than raise the visibility of struggle. has the real of forcing the removal Tim Wolfe from his position and getting someone in the seat of authority capable of addressing this campus climate. the Missouri players—like big-time football players—hold a power. The student body is just yet 58 of the school’s 84 scholarship football are African-American. is no football team without black That means there aren’t million-dollar coaching salaries without labor. There isn’t a nucleus of campus social life without black labor. There isn’t the boon to Columbia, Missouri, in millions in to restaurants, other businesses without labor. The power brokers of Columbia need these games to be Yet if the young black men and those willing to them—and are white teammates standing with them—aren’t happy the of unpaid labor on openly to can it all down, just by down their helmets, hanging up spikes, and folding their will show how university power really works in country where football coaches are often the highly paid people on campus and universities are like a company town primary business The actions of these players is best understood a rumble of the giant. We have felt similar stirrings in recent years Northwestern players pushed union recognition and players at Grambling against their unsafe When players these of show what they really are: a force. like all labor forces they concerned
 hunger strike. Butler’s demand Was that WolFe stePs dOwn. he Said, “i alrEady feel like caMPus iS an unlivable space it’s woRth saCrIFiciNG sOmethIng of thIS gRAVe aMoUnT, beCaUSe i’m alrEadY not wanTed here. I’m aLreAdY not treated lIKe i’m a human.”

NoW thE football plaYerS have tAkEn uP That dEmaNd—and In our sPOrts-obSessed culTuRE, that mATters. As dR. maRtinEz said to me, “It’s sad tHAt A Student starvinG himseLf DOeSN’T geT atTention likE a FootbALl strikE DoES. bUt tHEy know their poWer and am proUD of Them foR uSinG It. It’s nOt easY tO StaNd up, especiaLly hEre.”

But the Strike DOes more THan raisE the viSibIliTy of THe StRugGlE. it hAS tHe vERy rEal potenTiAl Of actUallY FORCing The RemoVal of tim Wolfe from hIs pOsitIOn aNd getTing sOmeoNe In the Seat of AuthoRiTy capable of addrEssiNg this poiSonOuS caMpUs cliMAte. ThaT’s bEcaUse the MIssouri FOotBaLL PLaYers—like all big-time CoLLEgE footbalL playeRS—hOlD A deep socIaL poWer. THE StudeNt boDY iS just 7 perCent blACk, YeT 58 of the sChOol’s 84 scHoLarShiP footBAll pLayers Are AfricAn-AmeRIcan. There is no fOOtball team witHOuT BLaCK labOr. THat means theRe arEN’t miLlioN-DoLlaR CoachIng saLaRIeS Without black labor. ThErE isn’t a NucleUs of campus socIal life witHOUT black laBor. THErE Isn’t the weekly eConomIc boon to CoLUmbia, MisSouri, Bringing In millionS IN revenue To hOteLs, rEstAURaNts, and other asSORted BuSinesseS wiThout blAck LabOr. THe pOwEr brokers Of ColumbIa NeEd ThEse Games TO be playeD. YEt iF tHe yOung bLAck men And thOse wIlLiNG to Stand wiTH tHEM—and ThErE are WhiTe TeammAtes PUblIcly staNding with TheM—Aren’T hApPy with tHe grind of unpaId Labor on a caMpUs oPenly hOSTile to blAck students, they can take iT It all doWn, jUst by PuttIng down thEir HelmetS, haNGing up Their sPikes, AnD foLDIng thEIR aRms.

if wolfe goes, iT WIll Show hOw UnivErsity pOwer really works in a COunTry where footbAll CoacHES aRe oFTeN The MoST hiGHLy paid people on cAmpus and unIvERsIties are liKE a cOmPany towN whose pRimarY BusinesS is footbaLl. The actiOnS of tHESe pLayers is beSt undersTood as a ruMBle of THe SleepIng Giant. WE hAve Felt sImilar STirRings In receNt Years wHen NoRtHwestern Football players pushed foR union RecogNitIon and the PlaYErs At GrambliNg stRuck againsT thEir UnsafE woRKing cOndiTIoNs. WHEn plaYers TAke these kINdS of DIReCt actions, thEY SHow What tHey REally aRe: a lAbor force. And like aLL labor forces thEy arE COncErnED witH
 hunger strike. Butler’s d emand wasthatWol fest epsdown . He said, “Ia lrea dy feel like campus is  an u nl i vabl e  s paceit’s wo r th s acr if ic ing  s o me thing  of  this g rave amoun t,be cause I’m al r ea dy not wan ted  here. I’m a lre ady no ttre a ted l ike  I’ma huma n .”

No w the foo tb a ll pla y ers hav e ta kenup that demand—an d  i n  our sports-ob sessed  c u lt u r e,tha t matters.  A s Dr. Martine z  s a i d  to me, “It’s sad  that a stu d ent  starv in g h i mselfdoesn ’t get  attentionlike  a footba ll str i ke does .  But th ey kno w t hei r po w er  a ndam pro u doft hem  for usi ng  i t. It ’s n o t e asytostan d up,  especially h ere .”
B utthe s trike  doe smorethan r aiseth e visibility of  the  struggle . I thas  t he ve r y real  po ten tial of  actual l y f or c i n gthe removal of Tim  W o l fe  from hi s posi t io na nd getti ng  so meon e in th e se a tof autho rity c a pa bl e of ad dr essing  t his  po isono u s ca mpus c limate.That’ s  because the M i ssouri footba l lp l ay e rs—l ike  all big-ti me c o lleg e fo o tb all playe rs—ho ld ad eep social power. T he  stude nt bo dy is just 7percent bl a c k , yet 58  oft he school’s 84 sc holar ship footb a ll playe rs ar e Africa n-America n .  There i s n o f oot bal l te am without bl a c k la bo r. That  me ans the reare n’t  mi ll ion-dolla r coachi ng  s al ar ies  with o ut black  l abo r.  Th ere i s n’t anucle us o fca m pus  social li f e  wit ho ut  bla ckla bor.Ther e  is n’t the  weekly e con o micbo on  to Col umbia, Missou ri , bringing  i n m illion s in reven ue to hotels, restauran t s, andoth er as sort ed busine sse s with out blacklabor.  Thepo wer b roker s of  Co lu mbia needt h ese  game sto b e playe d. Yet if the youn g  bl ack men and t hos e wi l l in g t o  s t and  w i tht h em—and there ar e white te am m at es publicl y  st an ding wi th them —aren ’ t happy  with the  grind of  u npai d lab or on a ca mpus ope nly hosti l e tob la ck st ude nts, t he y c an ta ke iti t a ll do wn, ju st  by pu tting  d own thei r helmets, hanging up t heir s pikes , a nd foldin g t h eir  arms.

I f Wo lfe goes,itwil l sho w h o w uni vers i ty  po w er re ally works ina  c oun t r ywhere footb a l l  co aches  ar e  often  the  most highly paid people on camp us a n d  un ive r siti es  are like a co mpa ny t own whos eprimary bus iness is  f o otbal l. The  actio ns of t h e se player s is  be st unders too da s a rum bl eo f theslee pi ng gia nt. We have f elt similar stir rings i n rec e ntyears  w hen Nor t hwes tern footb all players  pushe d fo r uni on reco gn itionand  t he players at Grambl ing s truck a ga inst  th eir un safe w orkin g co nd iti ons. When p la y er st ake  the se ki nd s of  direct a c tions, t hey show wh at  th e y  reall y  a r e : a laborfor ce. A n d  like alll abor fo r ces t hey ar e conc erned w i th
 hunger_strike. Butler’s_demand was that Wolfe_steps down._He_said, “I_already_feel like campus_is an unlivable_space it’s worth sacrificing_something of this_grave_amount, because I’m already not wanted here. I’m already not treated like I’m a_human.”

Now_the football_players_have_taken up that demand—and in_our sports-obsessed culture, that matters._As Dr._Martinez said to me, “It’s sad that a_student_starving himself doesn’t_get attention like a football strike does. But they_know their power and am proud_of them for_using_it._It’s not easy to_stand up, especially here.”

But the strike_does more than raise the visibility_of the struggle. It has the very_real potential of actually forcing the_removal of Tim Wolfe from_his position_and getting someone in the_seat of authority_capable of_addressing this poisonous_campus climate. That’s because the Missouri_football players—like all_big-time college football players—hold a deep_social_power. The student_body_is_just 7_percent black, yet_58_of the_school’s_84 scholarship football players are African-American._There_is no football team without black labor._That means there aren’t_million-dollar_coaching salaries without black_labor. There isn’t a nucleus_of campus social life without black_labor. There_isn’t the_weekly economic boon to Columbia, Missouri, bringing in millions in revenue_to hotels, restaurants, and other assorted_businesses without black labor._The power_brokers_of Columbia need_these_games to_be played. Yet if the young black_men and_those willing to stand with them—and_there are white teammates_publicly_standing with them—aren’t happy with the_grind of unpaid labor on a_campus openly hostile to black_students,_they_can take it it all_down, just by putting down their_helmets, hanging up_their spikes, and folding their arms.

If Wolfe_goes,_it will show how university power_really_works in a country where football_coaches_are_often the most highly paid_people on campus and universities are_like a company town whose primary business is football._The actions of_these players is best understood_as_a_rumble of the sleeping giant. We have felt similar stirrings_in recent_years when Northwestern_football players pushed for union recognition and the players at_Grambling struck against their unsafe working conditions._When players take these kinds of direct actions, they show what_they really are: a labor force. And like_all labor forces they are concerned with