Girls4super t1_j9mn08o wrote on February 23, 2023 at 1:39 AM

Reply to comment by Hanpee221b in Striking Temple University graduate students overwhelming vote down proposed contract by diatriose

I think one issue here is that temple seems to be relying more and more on TAs to be primary professors instead of hiring actual field experts. In fact by my senior year several years back, nearly half my classes were entirely taught by TAs. They are not being compensated as a professor would be while taking on that work load. And frankly 20k is not a liveable wage in Philly. As you said, they don’t need to live comfortably, but they shouldn’t need to essentially work three jobs (ta + full time student + another job). It is also a disgrace the way the school is handling the strike. I’m fairly sure federally it’s illegal to try to punish them for striking. Not that other big corporations haven’t just taken the fines and LOLd at the law. But that doesn’t make it right.

Hanpee221b t1_j9mx872 wrote on February 23, 2023 at 2:55 AM

I agree, TAs are expected to be everything all the time without even a thanks but it can be really rewarding if you enjoy teaching. Also as someone said most times our contracts state we cannot seek other employment. I will note as someone else said there is a lot of expected privilege that makes graduate school much easier for people who have rich parents or a partner who can take on extra finances. I had a fellow grad student tell the graduate advisor he couldn’t afford tuition if they took away his remission and he was told to ask his boss for a private loan. And when you do have a majority being supplemented by parents they don’t care if others are struggling so why would they strike or complain? I hope the temple TAs get at least the bare minimum they are requesting but once the university pulls their remission they won’t last without going massively into debt.