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. |