Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

SU Graduate Student Employees Rally to Organize and to Oppose GOP Tax Reform Plan

Scott Willis
/
WAER News

Syracuse University Graduate Student employees Wednesday went public with their plans to unionize during what they say is a trying time at the university and under the Trump administration.  About 100 students and faculty braved the wind and cold outside Hendricks chapel to rally for organizing and against the republican tax reform plan.  Senior Janet Flores was among those to call on SU administrators to take a stronger stance against the legislation.

"For Syracuse University to not publicly condemn this tax plan is unacceptable.  It is necessary for Syracuse University to reflect the values, logic, and humanity housed in the brains and hearts of our faculty and graduate students on this campus."  

Credit Scott Willis / WAER News
/
WAER News
The crowd cheers in response to a speaker.

SU Chancellor Kent Syverud has expressed his deep concerns about the tax bill to the university community, and says the administration has been in contact with elected officials.  Several Graduate employees shared stories of how already low pay, limited health benefits, and challenging schedules would be exacerbated by additional taxes on tuition benefits under the GOP plan.  Ph.D Candidate Adam Patch says that’s why they need to organize.

"Without establishing a representative, negotiating body, there is no way to protect the diverse interests of graduate employees whose lives are always in flux as we work toward a tenuous future in academia.  As we have seen time and time again, registered student organizations have not leveraged the negotiating power we need as employees.  This leaves only one option...unionization," Patch said to a cheering crowd.

Credit Scott Willis / WAER News
/
WAER News

The burden could be even greater for International students.  Doctoral candidate and grad student employee Andre Habet is from Belize.

"The propose GOP tax plan would suck whatever savings international grad students have been able to make, limiting their ability to shuttle between spaces, and impeding people's opportunity to spend time with their loves ones and within the cultural community they may still call home, no matter how long they've been here."

Habet says being an international student can mean feeling alone and in competition against each another for the few paid graduate positions available.  

Below is the letter sent to the University community ahead of Wednesday's rally:

Credit Scott Willis / WAER News
/
WAER News

In a message to the Syracuse University community last Monday, Chancellor Kent Syverud made clear the University opposes any tax measures that would harm our graduate students, faculty, and staff, and their families.

For many weeks, the University has been in direct contact with our elected federal representatives regarding the tax reform legislation making its way through Congress. Additionally, we have worked with higher education advocacy groups locally and nationally to amplify our strong concerns in Congress.

Last week in a letter to Congressman John Katko, Chancellor Syverud strongly reiterated the University’s concerns about three very harmful provisions in the proposed legislation that would:

• repeal the tax exemption of tuition waivers for graduate students serving as teaching and research assistants;
• eliminate the deduction for interest on student loans; and
• categorize tuition benefits for employees and dependents as taxable income.

It has been a Syracuse University tradition for students to make their voices heard and much good has come from that. While the future of the tax reform and its specifics remain unclear, we will continue to work with the elected representatives from the Graduate Student Organization to advocate on behalf of our graduate students during this unsettling and disconcerting time.

As Chancellor Syverud said last week, it is important that every member of our community feels supported and empowered, as each of you plays a unique and important role in making this University an exceptional place to live, study, work, and learn.

Sincerely,

Michele G. Wheatly
Vice Chancellor and Provost

Peter A. Vanable
Associate Provost for Graduate Studies and Dean of the Graduate School

Credit Scott Willis / WAER News
/
WAER News

Scott Willis covers politics, local government, transportation, and arts and culture for WAER. He came to Syracuse from Detroit in 2001, where he began his career in radio as an intern and freelance reporter. Scott is honored and privileged to bring the day’s news and in-depth feature reporting to WAER’s dedicated and generous listeners. You can find him on twitter @swillisWAER and email him at srwillis@syr.edu.