2008 Woodie Awards
Campus braces for student strike
Will McGuinness, Collegian Staff
Issue date: 11/14/07 Section: News
The GSS's Web site reads that the increase in fees has had a major effect on campus diversity as it allegedly prices students out of public higher education.
According to Thompson, graduate students who apply for money from diversity funds have been rejected, leaving many scratching their heads.
Blaguszewski said the University's policy "has to do with the decision to invest funds in different ways." He said, "A year or two ago, the University received a federal grant to encourage more under represented minority students to pursue careers in sciences and mathematics."
Blaguszewski added that a lack of funds necessitates the need to get outside grants.
"It's a policy issue," he said. "The University pooled the money and decided to allocate the funds to emphasize a nationwide need for professionals in the highlighted fields."
GSS President Jeff Napolitano said on the GSS Web site, "For the administration to fulfill the requirement of diversity as a core mission of the University, we call on them to institute a transparent, accountable and democratic process that incorporates student input and oversight."
He added in an interview that graduate students studying in the humanities have seen their funding "evaporate" and that there needs to be more accountability as to how the federal money is spent. He said the GSS receives a one-page, double spaced, "cryptic" rundown but the report is a far cry from the transparency that should exist.
However Blaguszewski reiterated his prior point saying, "It's a policy choice, not an issue of transparency. You may disagree, but that's the decision made."
Thompson said that while the administration may have made decisions to maximize revenue to aid shrinking budgets, decisions regarding the running of student space such as the Lincoln Campus Center and the Student Union should be left to the original caretakers of the areas - students.
"When something in the Student Union that is funded through student fees, we should not have to pay the added fees often placed on students," Thompson said. She added that campus center rooms are not rented with student priority in mind.
According to Thompson, graduate students who apply for money from diversity funds have been rejected, leaving many scratching their heads.
Blaguszewski said the University's policy "has to do with the decision to invest funds in different ways." He said, "A year or two ago, the University received a federal grant to encourage more under represented minority students to pursue careers in sciences and mathematics."
Blaguszewski added that a lack of funds necessitates the need to get outside grants.
"It's a policy issue," he said. "The University pooled the money and decided to allocate the funds to emphasize a nationwide need for professionals in the highlighted fields."
GSS President Jeff Napolitano said on the GSS Web site, "For the administration to fulfill the requirement of diversity as a core mission of the University, we call on them to institute a transparent, accountable and democratic process that incorporates student input and oversight."
He added in an interview that graduate students studying in the humanities have seen their funding "evaporate" and that there needs to be more accountability as to how the federal money is spent. He said the GSS receives a one-page, double spaced, "cryptic" rundown but the report is a far cry from the transparency that should exist.
However Blaguszewski reiterated his prior point saying, "It's a policy choice, not an issue of transparency. You may disagree, but that's the decision made."
Thompson said that while the administration may have made decisions to maximize revenue to aid shrinking budgets, decisions regarding the running of student space such as the Lincoln Campus Center and the Student Union should be left to the original caretakers of the areas - students.
"When something in the Student Union that is funded through student fees, we should not have to pay the added fees often placed on students," Thompson said. She added that campus center rooms are not rented with student priority in mind.
Viewing Comments 1 - 2 of 2
thefreak
posted 11/14/07 @ 2:48 PM EST
If you're striking, are you planning events, or just skipping class?
http://www.newsfreak.com/articles/2405-umass-students-set-to-strike-for-rights-and-by-strike-we-mean-sit-on-their-asses-and-eat-funions
Sarah Morgan
posted 11/16/07 @ 4:28 PM EST
Actually, we had three different teach-ins scheduled every hour of both days, to allow students to teach each other about a variety of topics. We had a rally and a march and a social. (Continued…)
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