UCSC demonstrators call for solidarity after threats of firing
SANTA CRUZ, Calif. (KION) https://livestream.com/accounts/25723746/events/8522569/videos/202039828 The University of California President, Janet Napalitano, has given protesting graduate student workers an ultimatum- submit grades or get fired.
In an open letter to faculty, staff and students at UCSC, Napolitano urged protesters to end the strike, saying while administrators are sympathetic to high living costs in Santa Cruz and the pressure it puts on teaching assistants, the strike is not the way to get a pay raise.
In response to the letter, striking graduate students held a press conference Tuesday morning, calling for a mass mobilization and solidarity.
“I’m risking a lot given these recent emails and threats. I’m risking my entire academic career it seems like,” PhD student Brenda Arjona said.
Graduate students are given until Friday to submit the rest of the grades from last quarter, but at this point there are still no plans to do that.
“My son is going to be 11 soon. He’s been raised in this academic environment and I don’t know if I can continue in it and believe in it struggling the way I am and tell him: yes education is the way to go,” Arjona said.
For many graduate student, student instructing is their only source of income.
“My only job has to be only as a teaching assistant, because my visa only allows me to work 20 hours a week and on campus,” PhD student Yulia Gilichinskaya said.
“I’ve been forced to work multiple jobs to keep up with rent and I’ve been forced to take out student loans that could financially cripple me for the rest of my life,” PhD student Carlos Cruz said.
The graduate student instructors who make $2,400 a month during the school year, are asking for a cost of living adjustment of $1400 monthly.
The graduate student's union is not backing the strike, because workers are currently under contract until 2022, but opposes any punishment towards the striking students by the university.
“I’d prefer to continue to do this work, but I also believe in this action and believe in what we’re doing,” Gilichinskaya said.
Graduate student instructors have until 11:59 p.m. Friday to submit all missing grades. There are about 10% still missing from last quarter.
