3/5     The University wants your feedback on a draft of its "Principles of
        Community" mission statement. As someone who remembers the lecture
        courses of 250+ students and a few garishly cold TAs from her
        undergraduate years, I found it hilarious! Now's your chance
        to let the University know what you think of its "caring and
        support for all campus community members" (I'm not making it up!):
        http://osr2.berkeley.edu/poc.html
        \_ Hehe, I saw this yesterday and cannot imagine how it would be
           any more relevant than a "mission statement."  What a waste of
           time.
           \_ I think it's in line with them suggesting students charged with
              conduct violations don't need lawyers, because it's an
              "educational" process.  Also how GSI's can't have a union because
              they're "not employees".
              \_ Just for the record: When you're not categorized as an
                 employee (as many grad students are not), you don't have to
                 pay certain taxes (social security, unemployment, etc.),
                 which is a good thing if you're a starving student.
                 \_ This is not the case at UC Berkeley, at least. Yes, the UC
                    managed to finagle its way out of SS payments, but my wife
                    (a GSR) pays into an alternative fund that she'll never see
                    a dime of. Yes, taxes are less, but her annual income is
                    so small that, as a student, the lack of certain taxes
                    hardly makes a difference. She, and most other non-engineer
                    and non-phys science GSRs I've known would much prefer the
                    employee designation. Fortunately, this change is
                    happening, mainly thanks to the recent spate of
                    unionizations.
        \_ I agree with the above.  It's a basket of crap.