Grad students form a third gov't branch

Several graduate students last night formed a new graduate student organization to better define their position at the University and increase their stipends. The 30 students, who were led by history graduate student Marc Stein, gathered yesterday to discuss various ways to improve their situation at the University, including forming a graduate student union. They did not come to a decision about the union. At the meeting, the students complained that they are not informed about University policies and that they do not make enough money as teaching and research assistants. "Graduate students at Penn are very concerned with what their situation is," said History student Liam Riordan. "Communication is a major cause of concern." Although all but three of the students at the meeting were in the School of Arts and Sciences, several did not know that SAS Associate Dean of Graduate Studies is Don Fitts. The students decided at the meeting to look at students' attempts to form unions at other universities and to consult with the labor unions at the University before meeting again in two weeks to discuss their findings. "We want to explore possibilites," Stein said. Graduate Student Association Council Chairperson Michele Grimm said she was not sure if the students would form a union, but that she "thinks it will accomplish something even if it just organizes what the students want to know." "I think we all can definitely work together," she added. "I think it's a good idea, but I wonder if, once the school year starts, they'll continue," said Graduate and Professional Student Assembly Chairperson Allen Orsi, who did not attend the meeting. ''I think they should look into it very critically." Stein organized last night's meeting because he felt that problems disturbing graduate students often get ignored due to inaction. The problems are usually not brought up until the spring, when people are too busy to deal with them, Stein said. Stein did not criticize the existing student government branches -- GAPSA and GSAC -- but said he felt that another organization was needed. "GAPSA and GSAC are already part of the University's official decision-making process," Stein said. "That creates a possibility for influencing decisions, but it also constrains those organizations." Although the new group may not create a union, "it would be completely inappropriate for GSAC and GAPSA to form a union," Stein said. At the meeting, students asked about housing, health insurance and funding, but many questions went unanswered because no one present knew the details. Two years ago, students considered creating a graduate student union but did not accomplish anything, said Susan Garfinkle, a former GAPSA chairperson. "Someone said the word [union,], it got into [The Daily Pennsylvanian], and it caused such a big fuss no one said it again," Garfinkle said.

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