Comments on: The Corporatization of the University (Updated)

By: David G.

David G. — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 18:30:11 +0000

Apparently Tim didn’t get the memo about the group hug.

Time to give it up, buddy. You’ve used our blog for your soapbox long enough.

By: Bob

Bob — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 18:28:35 +0000

#132: Somebody needs her nap.
I thought it went well with #120.

By: Tim

Tim — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 18:20:08 +0000

“Thus, we are striking to protect the benefits we were promised when we came to the University.”

If that were true, your strike was all for nothing. You don’t need to have a union or a strike to fight for something that is contractually guaranteed to use as an individual. Additionally, even if you couldn’t force the university into binding arbitration, you could use your union’s resources to sue the university if you were denied your contractually entitled benefits. A judge would have to be a fool or a madman to NOT grant injunctive relief, especially if this action was a class action, which would be expected if you really all have been guaranteed a tuition waiver for the duration of your time here.

So, if your own statements are true, this strike was for nothing. Additionally, if the tuition waiver was already a matter of contractual entitlement, you had more to gain by accepting Saturday’s contract offer than the one you have on the table right now.

By: Joel

Joel — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 17:11:52 +0000

Cumbaya, Cumbaya

By: Ardis E. Parshall

Ardis E. Parshall — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 16:21:52 +0000

Uh, Bob, that comment would have been timely, oh, 70 or 80 comments ago. Maybe. Besides, can’t you see we’re all hugging now, our status, income, and professional differences forgotten? Awwwww…

By: Bob

Bob — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 15:19:45 +0000

If you are going to make $100,000+ as an lawyer, You are either going to have to be Machiavellian, or have some great skills others don’t. It is also helpful to be in the room where a lot of cash is flowing thru people’s hands. Law pays well, if you also are a good business person and have people skills.

By: Amanda H.

Amanda H. — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 13:11:41 +0000

May I suggest something? We might see the tuition waivers as an attempt to make graduate school more diverse and equitable. The tuition at the public university where I am a graduate student is $36,000 a year. As someone from a lower socioeconomic background, I could never afford to pay that outright and the likely salary I would make after graduate school would never allow me to pay it back if I had to take it all out in loans. No tuition waiver, no graduate school for me.

Also, I have some friends who have full-ride scholarships to law school, and yes, their scholarships come with a small stipend. Should law schools offer more scholarships to make it possible for more low income students to attend? Perhaps, but let’s not pretend that every student who is at law school is paying their way.

Oh, and since this has turned into a “how far can you spit” contest, I have worked as a maid, at a fast food restaurant, and as a forest ranger (just for a summer). My parents also both work at a factory, and my mom used to make me take out the kitty litter and occasionally clean the toilet. It was gross and brutal labor. I now make my husband do it.

Chris H. — Thanks for making that other post.

By: Stephen M (Ethesis)

Stephen M (Ethesis) — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 13:05:09 +0000

Thus, we are striking to protect the benefits we were promised when we came to the University.

I think that is the point that got overlooked in much of the above debate and discussion.

By: David G.

David G. — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 12:25:34 +0000

Wow, 128 comments (and counting). We usually only get this type of traffic when we blog about race or Glenn Beck. I guess labor disputes get people riled up too.

By: Chris H.

Chris H. — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 11:47:06 +0000

Hugs all around Steve.