Non-IU News
Relevent News Items From Other Universities
Graduate Assistants United Celebrates Repeal of Discriminatory Fee at University of Florida
Graduate Assistants United celebrated victory yesterday after UF
administrators suspended the discriminatory $50 international student fee.
An independent legislative accounting review last week declared that the
fee was enacted without statutory authority.
In 2002 the Department of Homeland Security required that all
universities monitor international students through the Student and
Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS). In a controversial move, UF
passed the monetary cost of the increased surveillance on to the
international students themselves. Administrators failed to justify the
fee to the academic community or the union representing its 4000 graduate
employees.
In partnership with campus and international student
organizations, GAU mounted a protracted campaign against what it perceived
as a violation of international student and worker rights. "This was a
major issue at universities across the country," says Todd Reynolds, UF
GAU Co-President, "and a cynical attempt to generate revenue from one our
most vulnerable sector of scholars. After three years of hard work in
challenging this fee, our final success is a testament to the solidarity
of students and employees across campus."
To celebrate this momentous victory of union strength, and show solidarity
with striking grad employees at NYU, GAU hosted a Campus Equity and
Solidarity Speak-Out On November 9th. The speak-out celebrated
campus-wide efforts to repeal the fee and reaffirms the union's ongoing
commitment to fair treatment for all domestic and international graduate
workers.