This is the free, Sunday edition of Culture Study — the newsletter from Anne Helen Petersen, which you can read about here. If you like it and want more like it in your inbox, consider subscribing. When I started my Master’s Program at the University of Oregon, I didn’t know how good I had it. As a “graduate teaching fellow” — known elsewhere as a TA — I was paid a living wage for the place where I lived. I was able to access very good health care, including mental health care. I would’ve been able to add my partner to that healthcare plan, even if we weren’t married. And I was protected from the “fees” that many universities foist on graduate students (technology fee, advising fee, building fee, administrative fee, often totally thousands of dollars for the year).
This was an eye-opening read about grad schools and unions. (I took a lot for granted as a graduate student in the sciences nearly 20 years ago.)
Wonderful op-ed, too, Anne Helen! I shared it with my partner, who is a die-hard backyard putterer. Yard work gives him that zen feeling and a true sense of accomplishment. I don't have a yard in which to do yard work, so I get that sense of accomplishment from cleaning the bathroom. lol.
UM alum and daughter of a (former) union boss in Michigan here - the shit going on at U of M right now, especially now that they are going to fucking play football has really put me into a pit of despair. What has been so wild to me is how nakedly transparent it is, which feels different to how UM usually operates. The idea of "the Michigan difference" and "leaders and the best" is deeply ingrained in the Michigan psyche - many of us really do believe it and carry it with us into the rest of our lives, which, now that I write it out, feels so naive and silly. With its long history of liberal milestones, famous alumni, storied athletic programs, and I think its cover as a public university instead of a private one, the community really believes itself to be better than its peers, and definitely its rivals at MSU and OSU. The way the current administration is acting proves otherwise!!!
Unions have absolutely destroyed poor black education in South Africa - SADTU (wikipedia them) protects its members at the expense of the students. Refused to engage in any teacher grading. Reserves posts for the politically connected. Refused any technology advancements that might in any way sideline the teacher. Black education in SA has been the ANC's most heinous crime ( /s of course this is insignificant in comparison to the issues in the US, because clearly US issues are more important than the poor in SA and Zim /s ).
In the US of course you have the Police Unions doing their impressive work. HIGH FIVE for Unions.
Stop whining. You are not an employee, you are a grad student. Appreciate what you have. Stop acting like a spoiled child. You have more than you deserve. Appreciate it.
This was an eye-opening read about grad schools and unions. (I took a lot for granted as a graduate student in the sciences nearly 20 years ago.)
Wonderful op-ed, too, Anne Helen! I shared it with my partner, who is a die-hard backyard putterer. Yard work gives him that zen feeling and a true sense of accomplishment. I don't have a yard in which to do yard work, so I get that sense of accomplishment from cleaning the bathroom. lol.
UM alum and daughter of a (former) union boss in Michigan here - the shit going on at U of M right now, especially now that they are going to fucking play football has really put me into a pit of despair. What has been so wild to me is how nakedly transparent it is, which feels different to how UM usually operates. The idea of "the Michigan difference" and "leaders and the best" is deeply ingrained in the Michigan psyche - many of us really do believe it and carry it with us into the rest of our lives, which, now that I write it out, feels so naive and silly. With its long history of liberal milestones, famous alumni, storied athletic programs, and I think its cover as a public university instead of a private one, the community really believes itself to be better than its peers, and definitely its rivals at MSU and OSU. The way the current administration is acting proves otherwise!!!
Unions have absolutely destroyed poor black education in South Africa - SADTU (wikipedia them) protects its members at the expense of the students. Refused to engage in any teacher grading. Reserves posts for the politically connected. Refused any technology advancements that might in any way sideline the teacher. Black education in SA has been the ANC's most heinous crime ( /s of course this is insignificant in comparison to the issues in the US, because clearly US issues are more important than the poor in SA and Zim /s ).
In the US of course you have the Police Unions doing their impressive work. HIGH FIVE for Unions.
Stop whining. You are not an employee, you are a grad student. Appreciate what you have. Stop acting like a spoiled child. You have more than you deserve. Appreciate it.