ucgradnarratives

[ucgradnarratives]

I am a second year PhD student, and a mom.  Almost all of my paycheck goes to pay my child’s healthcare.  This system is not right.

-2rd year PhD Student, UC Davis

#cola4all #strike #gradstudentsresist

[ucgradnarratives]

I am a 6th year PhD student.  I work 75% and pay nearly 1700 in rent, because Davis is insane.  Who can live like this?  We need a COLA.

-6th year PhD Student, UC Davis

#cola4all #strike #gradstudentsresist

[ucgradnarratives]

I’m a 3rd yr PhD student, working 75% at UC Davis.  I also work as a consultant part time (and have to fulltime sometimes), and teach at Sacramento State University to support myself, pay for housing, and my medical expenses that are not covered by our insurance.  I work immensely hard, everyday, and barely sleep.  I wont be dismayed.  But we deserve to be better compensated for our time and labor.

-3rd year PhD Student, UC Davis

#cola4all #fstrike #gradstudentsresist

[ucgradnarratives]

I am a single mother of three, 3rd year PhD student at UC Davis, a 75% TA, also teaching at a local State University, and working a full-time job outside of campus just to survive.  My parents are in their late sixties, without retirement since their English is limited and worked only part-time for decades.  I hardly sleep.  I hardly have time to read, write, and research.  I barely have time to breath and think.  Some faculty don’t understand why I’m doing this, but graduate program at R1 universities assume elites and wealthy students in their programs, which is the design of all graduate programs.  As I struggle with academics, so do my children.  I can’t help them with their online Zoom classes because I’m too busy trying to make sure there is food, roof, and clothes.  COLA is needed.  Not just for graduate students, but for undergrads.

-3rd year PhD Student, UC Davis

#cola4all #strike #gradstudentsresist

[ucgradnarratives]

I’m a first generation PhD Student.  I carry those I love with me.  I love learning and pour my heart into teaching and my students, and never turn anyone down for time or extra support.  I’ve started groups on campus to support graduate students, built programs, all uncompensated even though it’s the right thing to do, all while trying to do my own research.  I once thought that with struggle comes ease, and a brighter future, but it seems we’re only meant to struggle under this system, either silently and alone or in community together.  Graduate school is not just a break or stepping stone.  I’m not an automaton on autopilot or a superhero.  My paycheck goes to support not just me but my family at home, my parents and siblings and cousins.  The university does not respect me or graduate students like me to pay us a living wage, before and especially now during the Corona pandemic.  Our bosses and administration could not care less how or whether we live or die as long as our grades are turned in on time.  Nor do they respect undergraduates they farm like cash crops for a profit.  Education is for all, not a privilege for the rich, nor is eating, sleeping, moving, and working with dignity.  Shame on them and this system. I deserve better.  We all deserve better. 

-3rd Year PhD Student, UC Davis

#cola4all #strike #gradstudentsresist

[ucgradnarratives]

Whoever continues to believe that attending graduate school at UC Davis and other UCs gives more than it takes from students, you’re in for a wake up call. The higher education industrial guilt complex will no longer suppress our stories of resilience in the face of university austerity.

There seems to be surprise by some faculty, graduate students and community members as to graduate student’s urgent demand for a Cost of Living Adjustment, both before and now during Covid-19.  Many people are not aware of the struggles graduate students ACTUALLY face here at UC Davis or across the UCs.  Whether its inadequate wages and exploitation, obscene rent, racism, sexism, ableism, chronic anxiety, a militarized campus, skyrocketing health care costs, untenable living and work-from-home conditions, or the many more challenges we face considering our bosses and administration could not care less whether we live or die so long as grades are turned in on time.  This blog will serve as a reminder to this university that our stories must be shared and we will not be silenced.  #cola4all

#intro #cola4al l#strikevote