Durham community calls on Duke University to invest more in employees, city

DURHAM, N.C. (WTVD) -- More than a hundred people held a rally and marched to Duke University on Thursday, calling on the university to make more meaningful investments in its employees and the city of Durham.

The rally, organized by the coalition Durham Rising, called on Duke to do things like raise the minimum wage to $25 an hour and allow employees to unionize.

Nahshon Blount works at Duke and said he's not able to survive on his own with the salary he gets from the university.

"We want you to sit at our table and understand how the workers and the city feel, and let's build the bridges," he said. "Don't break them or burn them, but let's build them."

The coalition also called on Duke to make major investments in areas like affordable housing and infrastructure in Durham.

Beth Silberman has lived in Durham for over 30 years and attended the rally on Thursday. She said Duke needs to do more to show its investment in the Bull City.

"People are allowed in, but there's a wall around this campus, and wages that don't support the costs of living here," she said. "Some professors actually work to integrate their students into the community, but they still stay in a silo with a wall around this campus."

Duke published a fact sheet detailing what the university says are contributions it has made in Durham, and benefits available to certain employees.

According to the university, full-time employees are eligible for comprehensive health insurance, tuition assistance, and paid parental leave, to name a few.

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As far as the impact it has had on the community, the university says it has created more than 1,000 affordable homes and units, made investments in Durham Public Schools, and said it has paid more than $13 million in tax-related contributions.

Still, community members - like Yasmin McClary - tell ABC11 Duke needs to invest more in the city it has called home.

"They're not helping the community around them. They're just basically using the community around them, but they're not helping the community around them," she said. "You should help the community that's helping you. Don't leave us out here high and dry."

ABC11 reached out to Duke University directly about Thursday evening's protest and march. The university has yet to respond.