University of Iowa faculty protesters stormed Thursday’s Board of Regents meeting, demanding wage increases.

“No excuses, no delays, we deserve a living wage!” chanted the group.

Frustrations from University of Iowa’s non-tenured faculty erupted just before 11:30 a.m. as a group of faculty members interrupted proceedings, leading the board to call a brief recess until the protesters vacated. This protest follows several others catalyzed earlier this year by the university’s announcement that, due to state funding cuts, faculty pay increases would be frozen.

“Faculty at this university were afraid to speak out about problems that were affecting them because they were afraid they could lose their jobs,” said Meaghan Harding, University of Iowa lecturer and the ostensible leader of the protest.

Protesters have been seeking higher wages and benefits for the university’s non-tenure track faculty, who they say are severely underpaid. According to a report from the American Association of University Professors, the University of Iowa’s average lecturer salary from 2017-2018 was $58,300, while Iowa State’s was $62,200. After taking total compensation including benefits into account, however, the gap between the two widens to over $10,000, leaving University of Iowa lecturers at an average of $75,700 while Iowa State lecturers earned on average $88,200.

Harding said the group would be extending the public comment section of the Board’s meeting due to their dissatisfaction with the allotted 30 minutes. Soon after she began speaking, a member of the Board announced they would take a short recess, after which the livestream’s audio cut and Board of Regents members left the room.

The meeting reconvened just over 10 minutes later, picking up where they left off before the protest.