Dear Editor:

I wanted to throw some support behind Charles Groce’s GA United column from Wednesday.

Mr. Groce raises some interesting points in his criticism of the upcoming GA United contract ratification; why is it that an organization with such a small constituency can essentially decide the fate of the collective graduate student assistant community?

Advertisement

If Mr. Groce is correct in estimating the cost of variable fees against the increase in pay, then the only redeeming quality of this contract is essentially rendered moot. I myself will fall victim to the new contract; as a graduate student in education with a bachelor’s degree in anthropology, I have many, many extra credit hours of undergraduate deficiencies to make up.

I cannot take eight graduate credits a semester and still make up those deficiencies, so essentially I’m out of a job, a tuition waiver, and my employer is out of their assistant. I can’t rationalize why, if my department is fine with my progress, and my employer is pleased with my performance, I can’t benefit from being a graduate assistant. Worse yet is that I have no say in the matter.

Congratulations GA United, you’ve screwed me, and yet you want me to pay dues for your assistance. Do something useful, and maybe I’ll consider it.

Anthony Baker

graduate student studying curriculum and instruction