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This morning, we received an email from the provost. A GSU member composed this response thread.
Concerned about possible repercussions if they tweeted in their own name, the member asked that it come from this account.
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Why we desperately need a recognized union (1/x)
Concerned about possible repercussions if they tweeted in their own name, the member asked that it come from this account.
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Why we desperately need a recognized union (1/x)
I am a third year PhD student in the Biological Sciences Division.
Compared to other divisions, BSD takes really good care of their students. We have a generous stipend, our healthcare and student life fees are covered, we get paid through the summer, etc. (2/x)
Compared to other divisions, BSD takes really good care of their students. We have a generous stipend, our healthcare and student life fees are covered, we get paid through the summer, etc. (2/x)
So I always felt like I need to be grateful for being admitted to the program and for having good support. And I am, I love my department and I enjoy the work I do.
But these three years have showed me a lot of the fundamental flaws of this university. (3/x)
But these three years have showed me a lot of the fundamental flaws of this university. (3/x)
I& #39;m a US citizen but my spouse is not. When I was admitted, I had to get a spousal visa for my partner. In order to do that, you need to provide proof of income.
Because of how we are payed, with no W2s, my stipend (which is more than enough) was not admissible as income. (4/x)
Because of how we are payed, with no W2s, my stipend (which is more than enough) was not admissible as income. (4/x)
I went to both the administration and immigration office, begging them to cosponsor my spouse (as they would if I was on a student visa), or give me a document stating that I am getting paid, w/guaranteed funding for 5 years.
I was told I& #39;d just have to figure it out. (5/x)
I was told I& #39;d just have to figure it out. (5/x)
It took me two years and the kindness of basically a complete stranger who agreed to cosponsor my spouse for immigration to get them here.
Even though the university pays me enough money to legally sponsor my spouse, the way we are paid makes it impossible to do so. (6/x)
Even though the university pays me enough money to legally sponsor my spouse, the way we are paid makes it impossible to do so. (6/x)
It also makes it impossible to set up a retirement account or rent an apartment that requires proof of income. Or open a credit card account.
I arrived in this country to get a PhD but I am basically unemployed because of how the university treats me. This has to stop. (7/x)
I arrived in this country to get a PhD but I am basically unemployed because of how the university treats me. This has to stop. (7/x)
People talk about how bad the campus climate is. They really are not exagerating.
Though my department and my colleagues were mostly incredibly nice people, the lack of diversity & support for people from other countries made the first 2 years in my program a living hell. (8/x)
Though my department and my colleagues were mostly incredibly nice people, the lack of diversity & support for people from other countries made the first 2 years in my program a living hell. (8/x)
Isolation, overwork, lack of support/structure, and being away from my spouse led to depression and a serious eating disorder.
At one point in my 2nd year, I was put on suicide watch at the hospital. My doctors said this cannot continue and I need to figure something out. (9/x)
At one point in my 2nd year, I was put on suicide watch at the hospital. My doctors said this cannot continue and I need to figure something out. (9/x)
I sought a medical leave of absence. My life actually depended on it.
The program head tried their best to help me, but university policy is that if you go on medical leave, even for one quarter, you lose your stipend AND become responsible for your health insurance. (10/x)
The program head tried their best to help me, but university policy is that if you go on medical leave, even for one quarter, you lose your stipend AND become responsible for your health insurance. (10/x)
I do not have family here. I don& #39;t have any savings.
I was in desperate need of treatment, so I had to continue my program because I couldn& #39;t afford to take any time off and lose my insurance. My healthcare team was amazing and got me through it, but it was a close call. (11/x)
I was in desperate need of treatment, so I had to continue my program because I couldn& #39;t afford to take any time off and lose my insurance. My healthcare team was amazing and got me through it, but it was a close call. (11/x)
What& #39;s the point of giving us the option of taking a leave of absence if doing so takes away our livelihood and medical insurance, making it impossible to treat the thing that forced us to take that leave of absence? (12/x)
There have been many other things that really have made my life difficult, from how we pay taxes, to incredibly high insurance premiums for dependents.
But I wanted to focus on the response to covid-19. (13/x)
But I wanted to focus on the response to covid-19. (13/x)
You all saw the email we got this morning, claiming that the university doesn& #39;t have money to lower tuition but that they made funds available to help students in need.
I call bullshit. (14/x)
I call bullshit. (14/x)
I tried to get financial help from the university. My spouse lost most of their income due to covid-19, and I don& #39;t have the money to pay their insurance premium this quarter.
I tried to apply for financial support and was turned down in 2 minutes, with no explanation. (15/x)
I tried to apply for financial support and was turned down in 2 minutes, with no explanation. (15/x)
I went to my department admin. The options my university offered me were to take my spouse off of my insurance (great idea in a pandemic!) or to apply for another type of financial help where they would basically help me make a plan so I could pay them $1.5k over time. (16/x)