>> MANY OF THE 3000 PLUS WORKERS ARE THE ONES TEACHING CLASSES, GRADING PAPERS AND WRITING THE RESEARCH ENGINES OF THE UNIVERSITY.

AFTER SEVEN MONTHS OF PRESSURE, DISRUPTION AND SOME REPLACEMENT WORKER DRAMA THEY SECURED THEIR FIRST EVER CONTRACT.

IT BUMPED PHD STIPENDS TO A MINIMUM OF $45,000, PLUS ANNUAL RAISES AND CHILDCARE SUBSIDIES.

ABOUT -- BUT MANY EMPLOYEE SAID THAT STILL WASN’T ENOUGH, AND THEY ARE NOT ALONE.

GRADUATE WORKERS AT PLACES LIKE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA HAVE GONE ON STRIKE IN RECENT YEARS WITH SIMILAR DEMANDS.

AS PART OF A MASSIVE SHIFT IN ACADEMIA, ONE THAT LOOKS LESS LIKE THE TOWER AND MORE LIKE A WORK WAREHOUSE.

IN 2005, TEACHING ASSISTANTS, A.K.A.

GRADUATE WORKERS, MADE UP AROUND 91% OF ALL BIOLOGY LABS IN AMERICAN UNIVERSITIES.

20 YEARS LATER, TEACHING ASSISTANTS LEAVING ENTRY-LEVEL COURSEWORK AT A UNIVERSITY HAS BECOME THE NORM.

TO BE CLEAR, UNIVERSITIES ARE CHARGING STUDENTS UP TO $90,000 A YEAR IN TUITION, BUT THE MAJORITY OF THEIR TEACHING LABOR FORCE IS BEING PAID LIKE BARISTAS WITHOUT TIPS.

WE KNOW HOW CORPORATIONS HAVE BEEN TREATING THEM.

SERVICE EMPLOYEES TOO DESERVE BETTER WAGES AND WORKING CONDITIONS.

BUT EVEN THAT IS SO DEBATED THAT IT HAD TO BECOME A STATE BALLOT QUESTION.

ACROSS THE COUNTRY, STUDENT EMPLOYEES ARE HELPING GENERATE MILLIONS FOR THEIR EMPLOYERS WITHOUT BASIC LABOR RIGHTS.

IF I’M LOSING ANYBODY, JUST THINK ABOUT COLLEGE SPORTS STARS LIKE JEREMIAH SMITH GOING UP AGAINST MASSACHUSETTS OWN CHARLIE DUANE BAKER, PRESIDENT OF THE NCAA, TO BE RECOGNIZED AS EMPLOYEES IN THE WAKE OF LANDMARK CASES LIKE INTO AA VERSUS AUSTIN, WHICH IS NOT MY CASE, Y’ALL.

THEY KNOW STUDENT ATHLETES VALUE TO THE YOUR NASH UNIVERSITY AND WANT TO BE RECOGNIZED.

THE PRESSURE COOKER OF ACADEMIA ISN’T JUST ABOUT PAY, IT’S ABOUT SURVIVAL.

COLLEGE STUDENTS ARE AMONG THE MOST VULNERABLE TO MENTAL HEALTH CRISES.

SUICIDE IS ONE OF THE LEADING CAUSES OF DEATH AMONG THEM WITH ABOUT 1100 DEATHS ANNUALLY IN 24,000 ATTEMPTS.

IN ADDITION TO BEING STUDENTS, GRADUATE WORKERS ALSO FACE LONG HOURS, LOW PAY, AND AN OVERWHELMING WORKLOAD.

AND A LOT OF TIMES, UNIVERSITIES DON’T TRACK THE SUICIDE RELATED INCIDENTS OR LACK ACCOUNTABILITY FOR THEM BECAUSE THEY DON’T WANT TO BE LEGALLY RESPONSIBLE OR DAMAGE THEIR REPUTATION.

FOR INSTANCE, AT UC BERKELEY, ONE DEPARTMENT EXPERIENCE FOUR SUICIDES IN A SINGLE YEAR.

THIS RESULTED IN MAJOR REFORM EFFORTS AND EXPOSED JUST HOW SEVERE THE MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS CAN BE IN ACADEMIC PROGRAMS.

ALL OF THIS RAISES A BIGGER QUESTION.

ONE BIGGER THAN BU AND BIGGER THAN ACADEMIA, AND A SYSTEM DESIGNED TO PROTECT THE INSTITUTION ABOVE ALL ELSE, WHO IS LEFT MOST AT RISK AND WHO IS LEFT UNHEARD?

BECAUSE WHETHER YOU ARE A GRAD STUDENT WORKER, ADJUNCT PROFESSOR, OR STUDENT ATHLETE, YOU ARE THE HEARTBEAT OF THE UNIVERSITY.

RIGHT NOW, THAT HEART IS PUMPING INTO A SYSTEM THAT OFTEN REFUSES TO CARE FOR THE PEOPLE WHO KEEP IT ALIVE.

WE KNOW THE PROBLEM.

NOW LET’S GET TO THE ROOT OF IT.

I’M PARIS ALSTON, AND THIS IS "ROOTED."

WE BEEN HEARING A LOT ABOUT STRIKES AND CONTRACT DISPUTES ON COLLEGE CAMPUSES BUT WHAT IS REALLY BEHIND IT ALL?

WE HIT THE STREETS TO BREAK DOWN WHAT’S DRIVING THESE TENSIONS AND WHAT IS AT STAKE FOR THE FUTURE OF EDUCATION.

HERE’S WHAT WE FOUND.

>> ACROSS THE COUNTRY, INCREASING NEVER GRADUATE STUDENT WORKERS ARE PUSHING FOR SOMETHING EARLIER GENERATIONS RARELY HAD, COLLECTIVE BARGAINING POWER.

THIS COMES AS UNIVERSITIES FACE FEDERAL FUNDING CUTS AND GROWING PRESSURE TO RESPOND TO THE MENTAL HEALTH NEEDS OF THEIR STUDENTS.

>> DO YOU THINK THERE ARE UNIQUE CHALLENGES PRESENT FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE IN POSITIONS LIKE YOURS WHEN IT COMES TO MAINTAINING WELL-BEING BUT ALSO FULFILLING YOUR DUTIES AT THE UNIVERSITY?

>> YES, IT CAN BE A LITTLE BIT UNCLEAR SOMETIMES WHAT EXACTLY YOUR RESPONSIBILITIES ARE FOR CERTAIN THINGS.

YOU KIND OF HAVE TO GO THROUGH SOME OF THE PROCESS AND FIGURE IT OUT YOURSELF.

SO I THINK THAT IS ALSO VERY IMPORTANT BECAUSE AT LEAST I WANT AND I’M SURE MANY PEOPLE DO WANT TO BE ABLE TO SUPPORT THE STUDENTS A HAVE ON CAMPUS.

>> MANY UNIVERSITY RESEARCHERS ARE ALSO STUDENTS, SO IT CAN BE HARD FOR THEM TO DO THEIR JOBS IF THEY ARE NOT SUPPORTED BY THE UNIVERSITY THEMSELVES.

THAT’S WHY MANY STUDENT EMPLOYEES HAVE TURNED TO COLLECTIVE BARGAINING.

THE IDEA OF UNITS ON CAMPUS CAN FEEL COMPLICATED, BUT THE MOVEMENT BEHIND IT IS DECADES IN THE MAKING.

THE FIRST MAJOR MILESTONE CAME IN 1969 WHEN GRADUATE STUDENT EMPLOYEES AT THE UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN MADISON FORMED THE COUNTRY’S FIRST VOLUNTARILY RECOGNIZE STUDENT WORKER UNION.

NEGOTIATING A CONTRACT THE FOLLOWING YEAR.

IT SET A PRECEDENT FOR MANY OF THE EARLIEST UNIONS TO CALL.

FOR GRADUATE WORKERS AT PRIVATE UNIVERSITIES, THE PATH WAS FAR MORE DIFFICULT.

THROUGHOUT THE 1970’S, THE NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS BOARD RULED THAT GRADUATE STUDENTS WERE CONSIDERED EMPLOYEES AND THEREFORE DIDN’T QUALIFY FOR FEDERAL LABOR PROTECTIONS.

BUT THAT BEGAN TO CHANGE IN 2000 AND THE BOARD RECOGNIZE GRADUATE WORKERS AT NEW YORK UNIVERSITY AS EMPLOYEES WITH THE RIGHT TO UNIONIZE.

A DECISION THAT WAS LATER REVERSED IN 2004 AND HAS CONTINUED TO SHIFT WITH DIFFERENT PRESIDENTIAL ADMINISTRATIONS.

IN RECENT YEARS, THAT LANDSCAPE HAS CHANGED DRAMATICALLY.

BETWEEN 2021-2023, THE NUMBER OF UNION REPRESENTED GRADUATE WORKERS NATIONWIDE INCREASED BY ABOUT 64,000.

NEARLY TRIPLE THE GAINS OF THE PREVIOUS EIGHT YEARS.

BY EARLY 2024, MORE THAN 150 THOUSAND STUDENT WORKERS WERE REPRESENTED IN HIGHER EDUCATION UNIONS.

>> BUT RESPONSIBILITY DO UNIVERSITIES HAVE TO GRADUATE STUDENT EMPLOYEES?

>> THE UNIVERSITY HAS RESPONSIBILITIES WHEN GRADUATE STUDENT EMPLOYEES ARE UNIONIZED TO NEGOTIATE TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT.

THEY ALSO HAVE RESPONSIBILITY TO THE STUDENTS, WHETHER WORKING FOR THE UNIVERSITY ARE NOT.

PART OF THAT IS TO MAKE SURE THE STUDENTS ARE IN AN ENVIRONMENT THAT IS SUCCESSFUL, THAT ALLOWS FOR SUCCESS, BUT ALSO ALLOWS FOR STUDENTS TO THRIVE AND DEAL WITH ISSUES INVOLVING HEALTH INSURANCE AND OTHER MATTERS INCLUDING TRAVEL, HOUSING, ETC.

PARIS: UNIVERSITIES ARE BALANCING THAT WITH OUTSIDE PRESSURE, INCLUDING MANAGING A GROWING MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS.

FOR GRADUATE WORKERS, THERE CAN BE EVEN MORE TO BALANCE AS THEY FIND THEMSELVES SUPPORTING STUDENTS IN STRESSFUL ENVIRONMENTS ALL SERVING AS TEACHING ASSISTANTS, MENTORS, AND RESIDENT ADVISORS THEMSELVES.

>> THERE’S A DISTINCTION, WITH STUDENTS ON CAMPUS, THEY CAN BE STUDENTS AND ALSO RESPONSIBLE FOR STUDYING AND LEARNING, ETC., AND ALSO THE MANY TIMES THEY ARE EMPLOYEES AS WELL.

AS EMPLOYEES, THERE IS A DIFFERENT ROLE THEY BETWEEN THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE UNIVERSITY AND THE STUDENT WHICH IS NOW THEY ARE STUDENT EMPLOYEES AND THEY MAY BE UNIONIZED.

THE ISSUE BECOMES SOMETIMES THE ISSUE IS INVOLVING QUESTIONS OF MENTAL HEALTH CAN BE ABOUT THE STUDENT SIDE AND WHERE THEY’RE TRYING TO BE PROVIDED WITH ASSISTANCE ON THAT.

ON THE OTHER SIDE, IT COULD BE THEY ARE IN A UNION AND THE UNION COULD BEAT NEGOTIATING HEALTH INSURANCE INCLUDING MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES.

PARIS: IN 2022, ROUGHLY 40 8000 WORKERS ACROSS THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA SYSTEM LAUNCHED THE LARGEST HIGHER EDUCATION STRIKE EVER RECORDED.

SHUTTING DOWN CLASSES AND DRAWING NATIONAL ATTENTION TO THE DEMANDS OF ACADEMIC WORKERS.

MEANWHILE, UNIVERSITIES LIKE COLUMBIA, HARVARD, GEORGETOWN, ILLINOIS STATE, AND BROWN, HAVE ALL SEEN SUCCESSFUL UNION DRIVES WITHIN THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS.

OF COURSE THAT WAS A 2020 FOR BOSTON UNIVERSITY GRADUATE STUDENT WORKER STRIKE WHICH LASTED 206 DAYS, MAKING IT THE LONGEST STRIKE OF ITS KIND IN HISTORY.

THE MOMENTUM IS UNMISTAKABLE.

GRADUATE STUDENTS INCREASINGLY SEE THEMSELVES NOT JUST AS LEARNERS AM ABOUT AS WORKERS WHOSE LABOR IS ESSENTIAL TO THE UNIVERSITY’S MISSION.

AS INSTITUTIONS NAVIGATE FINANCIAL PRESSURES, RISING STUDENT NEEDS AND CHANGING POLITICAL WINDS, THE FUTURE OF HIGHER EDUCATION WILL DEPEND IN PART ON WHETHER GRADUATE WORKERS CAN BARGAIN COLLECTIVELY TO SECURE THEIR RIGHTS.

RIGHT NOW, WE ARE DIGGING INTO THE FALLOUT FROM 822 ANY FOR BOSTON UNIVERSITY GRADUATE STUDENT WORKER STRIKES.

WE SAT DOWN WITH A PURPOSE -- PERSON’S STATUS AS A BU GRAD STUDENT IS IN JEOPARDY, DUE TO WHAT SHE SAYS IS RETALIATION.

SHE SHARES WHAT THIS FIGHT MEANS FOR THE FUTURE AND THE BROADER BATTLE OVER LABOR RIGHTS IN HIGHER ED.

LET’S HEAR HER STORY.

SO THE 2024 BOSTON UNIVERSITY STRIKES REALLY HELPED DEFINE GRADUATE STUDENT WORK, AND IN THE MOVEMENTS AROUND MAKING NETWORK FAIR, YOU PARTICIPATED IN THE STRIKES.

TAKE ME BACK TO THAT TIME AND WHAT THE ENERGY WAS AROUND.

>> WE WERE ORGANIZING AS A STUDENT BODY TOGETHER FOR THE MOST PART, ALL OF THE GRADUATE STUDENTS WERE UNITED.

WE WERE LOOKING OUT FOR EACH OTHER.

WE WERE COMMUNICATING WITH EACH OTHER.

IT WAS REALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE ORGANIZED DIFFERENT MUTUAL AID EFFORTS SO THAT ANYBODY WHO IS FINANCIALLY VULNERABLE COULD HAVE ACCESS TO THOSE FUNDS.

IT WAS REALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE WORKED TOGETHER, BUT THERE WAS LIKE A REALLY UNCOMFORTABLE INTENSITY BECAUSE WE WEREN’T SURE HOW BOSTON UNIVERSITY WAS GOING TO RETALIATE OR HOW QUICKLY THEY WOULD RETALIATE.

SO THE FIRST DAY OF THE STRIKE, IT DIDN’T TAKE VERY LONG BEFORE BOSTON UNIVERSITY TO GET ACCESS TO WHO WAS STRIKING AND THEN WITHHOLD OUR PAY REMATCH IMMEDIATELY.

SO WE WENT FROM FEELING ORGANIZED AND UNITED AND STRONG, TO VULNERABLE, CHAOTIC, AND PRETTY AFRAID.

I WAS SCARED FROM THE START TO THE END, SO FROM MARCH TO OCTOBER.

PARIS: THAT IS A LONG TIME TO BE TRYING TO FOCUS ON WORK AND ON YOUR STUDIES WHILE LIVING IN FEAR.

WHAT WERE YOU AFRAID OF?

>> I WAS AFRAID OF LOSING MY APARTMENT, LOSING MY CAT, WHICH BOTH OF THOSE THINGS HAPPENED.

I WAS AFRAID OF HOW MY MENTAL HEALTH WOULD BE AFFECTED.

I WAS AFRAID FOR MY FRIENDS AND MY COLLEAGUES, WHICH THEY CAME IN WITH THE VERY CLOSE KNIT COHORT AND OF COURSE WE ALL DRIFT APART BECAUSE OF RESEARCH AND DEDICATION TO THE CRAFT, BUT I WAS AFRAID THAT BEING ONE OF THE ONLY BLACK STUDENTS IN THE DEPARTMENT, THAT IF I DIDN’T STRIKE, I WOULD FACE RETALIATIONS WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT, AND THEN ALSO I WAS AFRAID THAT IF I DID STRIKE, LIKE THE UNIVERSITY WOULD COME DOWN HARDER ON ME THAN WHITE COLLEAGUES.

IT ENDED UP BEING PRETTY TRUE.

SO I DIDN’T SEE A WAY TO ADDRESS THESE FEARS IN REAL TIME, SO I JUST HAD TO, ALIKE, PUSHED THROUGH IT INSTEAD.

I DON’T KNOW IF THAT WAS THE BEST MODE OF ACTION.

PARIS: THE STRIKE WAS SUCCESSFUL.

>> TO AN EXTENT.

PARIS: OK, AND WE WILL TALK MORE ABOUT THAT.

BUT AT LEAST THERE WAS A THREE-YEAR CONTRACT PUT INTO PLACE AND INCLUDED DIFFERENT TENETS OF THE AGREEMENT SASCHA ZVEREV PAY -- SASCHA ZVEREV PAY, A 45 -- SUCH AS BEAR PAY, A STIPEND FOR GRADUATE STUDENT WORKERS, EMERGENCY FUNDS IN CASE OF AN EMERGENCY, IN CASE STUDENTS NEED TO TAKE LEAVES, ETC.

NOW, YOU ENDED UP IN A SITUATION WHERE YOUR MENTAL HEALTH WAS COMPROMISED, AND YOU APPROACHED THE UNIVERSITY ABOUT THIS.

WHAT HAPPENED FROM THERE?

>> THAT WAS BACK IN MARCH.

I WAS HOMELESS FROM THAT OCTOBER UNTIL MARCH.

BASICALLY I HEARD FROM MY DEPARTMENT CHAIR, MY MENTOR, AND THEY WERE CONCERNED ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT I WOULD BE ABLE TO CONTINUE MY PHD WORK.

SO AT THAT POINT, THE GRADUATE ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR OF GRADUATE AFFAIRS REACHED OUT TO ME TO SEE HOW WELL I WAS, BASICALLY.

AND I WASN’T, I WAS JUST HONEST, LIKE, HEY, I’M JUGGLING UNEMPLOYMENT, HOMELESSNESS, AND YOU GUYS ARE ASKING ME TO WRITE A PHD ON TOP OF ALL OF IT.

SO I FOUND IT REALLY DEHUMANIZING, AND I NEEDED TO SLOW DOWN AND ONLY FOCUS ON ME.

SO AT THAT POINT, GRS SUGGESTE FOR ME TO GO ON LEAVE, TAKE A LEAVE, FIND HOUSING, FIND EMPLOYMENT, AND THEN RETURN FROM MY LEAVE AFTER I SECURED ALL OF THESE THINGS.

SO THAT’S ORIGINALLY WHY I AGREED TO GO ON LEAVE.

PARIS: WHERE THEY OFFERING YOU ANY SORT OF SUPPORT DURING THAT TIME?

>> NOT REALLY, NO.

PARIS: THIS WAS EVEN AFTER THE EMERGENCY FUND WAS NOT AVAILABLE TO YOU FOR THIS?

>> IT WAS AVAILABLE TO ME.

NO ONE TOLD ME AT THE TIME THAT IT WAS AVAILABLE.

SO I WAS JUST LIKE NAVIGATING THE SITUATION MORE OR LESS BY MYSELF.

PARIS: AND WHERE YOU EXPLAINED, WHETHER IT BE BY THE UNIVERSITY OR EVEN BY THE UNION, HOW YOUR LEAVE OF ABSENCE WOULD AFFECT YOUR ABILITY TO RETURN AND CONTINUE AND FINISH OUT YOUR STUDIES AND WORK?

>> I WAS LED TO BELIEVE THAT WHEN I WAS READY TO RETURN AND COME OFF MY LEAVE OF ABSENCE THIS SPRING, SPRING OF 2026, THAT IT WOULD BE SEAMLESS, THAT I WOULD JUST HAVE TO SUBMIT THE SAME FORM TO THE SAME PERSON, AND I COULD JUST COME BACK.

AND WHAT ENDED UP HAPPENING WAS NOT ORGANIZED, AND IT WAS VERY CLEAR THAT MY WELL-BEING WAS NOT AT THE FOREFRONT OF THE GRS’S MIND, BASICALLY.

SO I ORIGINALLY ASKED TO BE TAKEN OFF MIGHT LEAVE LAST SUMMER WHEN I WANTED TO PARTICIPATE IN A TA POSITION WITH A PROFESSOR WHO I WON’T NAME RIGHT NOW.

IT WAS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY.

I WOULD’VE WORKED OVER THE SUMMER AND WOULD’VE GIVEN ME LIKE $3000 TO SAVE UP AND COME BACK TO BOSTON AND HAVE A STRONGER FOUNDATION THAN I DEFINITELY DO NOW.

AND THEN I ASKED AGAIN IN DECEMBER, BECAUSE ESSENTIALLY GRS FORCED ME TO COME BACK TO BOSTON SO I COULD FINISH MY PHD WORK.

BECAUSE THEY CLAIMED I COULDN’T DO IT FROM TEXAS.

PARIS: BUT THEY ARE SAYING THAT YOU HAVE TO COME BACK AND FINISH YOUR PHD WORK, EVEN THOUGH THE PROCESS FOR YOU BEING REINTEGRATED INTO THE UNIVERSITY SYSTEM HAS NOT BEEN SEAMLESS.

>> YES, EXACTLY.

PARIS: SO WHAT RESOURCES ARE AT YOUR DISPOSAL AT THIS POINT TO MEND THAT?

>> A COUPLE OF THEM.

SO I DID REACH OUT TO THE DEAN OF STUDENTS, BECAUSE I FELT LIKE ME ADVOCATING FOR MYSELF WASN’T GOING VERY WELL, AND I THOUGHT THAT AS THE DEAN OF STUDENTS, LIKE, THAT ORGANIZATION WITHIN BU WOULD BE POSITION IN A WAY WHERE THEY COULD LIKE ADVOCATE FOR ME AGAINST GRS AND SAY LIKE, HEY, SHE IS TRYING, SHE IS IN THE STATE, LET’S DO WHAT IS NECESSARY TO GET HER REINSTATED.

SO THE DEAN OF STUDENTS OFFICE CAN STEP IN WITH EMERGENCY HOUSING AND FINANCIAL AID.

THAT’S KIND OF WHERE THE MESSINESS GETS IN.

THE COW WAS FORCED TO COME BACK TO BU AND BOSTON UNIVERSITY WRIT LARGE.

NOW THE UNIVERSITY IS BLOCKING ME FROM CONTINUING BY LEAVING ME IN MY LEAVE OF ABSENCE INDEFINITELY.

PARIS: IT SOUNDS LIKE THAT COULD BE A HARD TIMELINE TO PLAN FOR.

>> YES.

I REMEMBER CORRECTLY THEY SAID I HAVE BY LIGHT JANUARY 22 COME UP WITH A WAY TO PAY FOR TUITION, FIND HOUSING AND EMPLOYMENT BY THAT DATE.

IT WAS AT THAT MOMENT WHEN I REALIZED, LIKE, THEY ARE DELIBERATELY STACKING THE WALL AGAINST ME, AND THAT’S IMPOSSIBLE FOR ANYBODY TO DO -- TO DO, TO COME UP WITH ALL THESE THINGS BY THAT DATE.

PARIS: AND WHY DO YOU THINK THEY ARE DOING THIS?

>> I THINK BECAUSE I PARTICIPATED IN THE UNION.

I WENT ON STRIKE.

I VERY VOCALLY ASK SOMEONE PRETTY HIGH UP TO NOT SCATTER MY CLASS, AND AT THE SAME TIME I HAD ONLY MADE $16,000 FOR THE ENTIRE YEAR.

THAT WAS ONE OF THE BIG MOTIVATOR FOR ME TO GO ON STRIKE IN THE FIRST PLACE.

PARIS: YOU MENTIONED HOW UNITED EVERYONE WHO WAS STRIKING SEEMED TO BE IN THE BEGINNING.

BUT YOU ALSO MENTION THESE WORRIES YOU HAD ABOUT IF YOU DIDN’T STRIKE, WOULD YOU BE ALIENATED?

HOW HAS THE UNION SUPPORTED YOU THROUGHOUT THIS PROCESS AND WHAT IF THEY COMMUNICATED TO YOU AS YOUR OPTIONS?

>> SO IT’S BEEN KIND OF TOUCH AND GO.

OVER THE SUMMER I REACHED OUT TO TWO UNION STAFF MEMBERS BECAUSE BASICALLY WHAT HAPPENED WAS I GOT THAT TA-SHIP AND A WEEK BEFORE I WAS TO START, GRS BASICALLY FORCED ME OUT BECAUSE THEY HAD TRY TO ARGUE THAT BECAUSE I WAS ON A LEAVE OF ABSENCE THAT I COULDN’T TAKE THE TA-SHIP, BUT THE SUMMER TERM OFFICE PROCESSED TO SEE IF I WAS ON A LEAVE OF ABSENCE.

SO I WAS TERMINATED, I THOUGHT BACK AND THE MOST THEY COULD DO WAS MAKE MY CASE AN EXAMPLE OF BOSTON UNIVERSITY NOT HONORING THEIR CONTRACTS AND THEN KIND OF LIGHT REPRESENTING THAT WE NEEDED ANOTHER STATUTE BASICALLY THAT INCLUDES THAT IF PHD STUDENTS ARE UNDERGOING EXTREME DURESS, LIKE I AM IN MY CASE, THAT WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO DO OUR TA-SHIPS REMOTELY.

I THINK THAT IS PART OF THE UNION’S GOAL NOW, BUT IN TERMS OF IMMEDIATE SUPPORT, HAVEN’T REALLY RECEIVED A LOT OF THAT OUTSIDE OF SOME EMAIL ADVICE.

PARIS: HAS THAT ADVICE BEEN HELPFUL AND ACTIONABLE?

>> NOT REALLY.

PART OF THE LIMITATIONS OF THE UNION RIGHT NOW IS THEY CAN’T REALLY INTERVENE IN SITUATIONS THAT ARE BEYOND EMPLOYMENT.

THAT’S THE TRICKY PART ABOUT WHERE I AM RIGHT NOW.

I AM NOT CURRENTLY EMPLOYED WITH BOSTON UNIVERSITY, SO THE UNION HAS ONLY SOME HE THINKS THAT THEY CAN DO FOR ME.

PARIS: I SEE.

YOU MENTIONED THAT UNION IS USING YOUR CASE AS AN EXAMPLE FOR THINGS THAT THEY WOULD IDEALLY HAVE, A MAN FOR THE NEXT CONTRACT.

ARE THERE OTHER EXAMPLES LIKE YOURS THAT YOU HAVE HEARD OF OR ARE AWARE OF?

>> YES.

I’M NOT SURE HOW MUCH TO SHARE, BUT I DEFINITELY KNOW PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN REALLY TERRIBLY TREATED BY GRS AND BY BU.

IT IS THE COMBINATION OF MENTAL HEALTH STRUGGLES AND FINANCIAL VULNERABILITIES.

SO, YEAH, I KNOW OF AT LEAST ONE OR TWO CASES WHERE PEOPLE JUST NEED EXTREME SUPPORT AND THEY ARE NOT GETTING IT BECAUSE GRS IS COMING DOWN ON US REALLY HARD FOR STRIKING.

PARIS: HELP US UNDERSTAND MY GRADUATE STUDENT WORKERS ARE SO VULNERABLE, BOTH IN TERMS OF FINANCIAL VULNERABILITY, BUT ALSO MENTAL HEALTH?

>> YES, IT’S A MIX OF THINGS.

IN GENERAL, WE TAKE LIKE GENERAL POPULATION OF GRADUATE STUDENTS, WE ARE VULNERABLE BECAUSE WE DO A LOT OF WORK FOR THE UNIVERSITY AND WE DON’T RECEIVE A LOT OF RECOGNITION FOR IT.

WE ARE ALSO VULNERABLE BECAUSE THE UNIVERSITY JUSTIFIES PAYING US AS AN EXCUSE TO TAKE ADVANTAGE, TO EXPLOIT US IN A LOT OF WAYS.

SO YOU ARE VULNERABLE BECAUSE YOU ARE GETTING PAID ON ONE HAND, BUT YOU ARE NOT GETTING PAID ENOUGH.

YOU ARE ALSO VULNERABLE BECAUSE YOU DON’T HAVE THE SAME INSURANCE PLANS AS A FACULTY MEMBER OR ADMINISTRATION.

THOSE THINGS CAN BE CHALLENGING.

AND IF YOU HAVE CHILDREN I’M SOMETIMES THERE’S NOT A WAY TO COVER THE COST OF CHILDCARE ON TOP OF IT.

PARIS: YOU ARE A MINORITY ON CAMPUS.

BU’S BLACK STUDENT POPULATION IS ONLY ABOUT 4%-7%.

HOW DOES THAT COMPOUND THE SITUATION AND HOW HAS IT IMPACTED YOUR EXPERIENCE AT BU?

>> EVERY DAY.

WHEN I WAS GETTING MY MASTERS AND YOU DID THE LARGE INTAKE, LIKE THE OPEN HOUSE, BASICALLY, IS ONLY ME AND MAYBE THREE OTHER BLACK PEOPLE IN A ROOM FULL OF POTENTIALLY OTHER PEOPLE OF COLOR, BUT MOSTLY WHITE STUDENTS.

PARIS: LASTLY, WHAT IS ONE THING THAT HAS BEEN KEEPING YOU ROOTED OR GROUNDED DURING THIS WHOLE EXPERIENCE?

>> WRITING -- I DON’T WANT TO TALK ABOUT THREADS, BUT IT IS A SPACE THAT HAS CHANGED HOW I’VE BEEN THINKING ABOUT SOCIAL MEDIA .

BECAUSE I HATE SOCIAL MEDIA.

I’M INTROVERTED.

PARIS: I CAN RELATE.

>> FACEBOOK HAS ALWAYS BEEN WEIRD.

I LIKE JUST BEING ABLE TO SHARE STUFF AND BE SILLY AND BE OPEN WITH PEOPLE WITHOUT MASKING, WITHOUT WORRYING ABOUT, DID I SAY THE WRONG THING?

BUT THAT’S REALLY BEEN KEEPING ME GROUNDED.

I’VE BEEN WORKING ON AN ESSAY IN RESPONSE TO A SHOW THAT’S GETTING A LOT OF HYPE IN THE WE ARE COMMUNITY -- IN THE QUEER COMMUNITY.

PARIS: DOES IT START WITH AN H -R?

HEATED RIVALRY FOR ANYONE WHO DOESN’T KNOW.

>> I’VE BEEN PROCESSING WHAT EFFECT IT IS HAVING FOR QUEER AUDIENCES TOO.

PARIS: FASCINATING.

YOU HAVE A BRILLIANT MIND, SO WE LOOK FORWARD TO KEEPING UP WITH YOU AND YOUR WORK, BE IT AT BU ARE ANYWHERE ELSE IN THE WORLD.

THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH.

THAT’S A WRAP FOR TODAY’S EPISODE.

THANKS FOR LEADING SUCH AN IMPORTANT DISCUSSION ON HOW HIGHER EDUCATION FITS INTO THE LARGER LABOR MOVEMENT, ESPECIALLY FOR FUTURE STUDENTS.

WE DID REACH OUT TO BOSTON UNITY VERY -- BOSTON UNIVERSITY FOR COMMENT AND THEY DECLINED, SAYING NEVER PROHIBITED FROM COMMENTING ON INDIVIDUAL STUDENT SITUATIONS.

REMEMBER, YOU CAN KEEP UP ON INSTAGRAM, TIKTOK, SPOTIFY, OR WHERE EVER YOU CAN EMAIL US OUT YOUR -- EMAILS YOUR THOUGHTS, SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER AND JOIN THE CONVERSATION THERE AS WELL.

AND SEALANT’S TIME, STATE ROOTED, STAY UNITED, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, STAY TUNED.

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