At the University’s Board of Regents meeting yesterday, graduate student instructors and graduate student research assistants spoke about the need for University administrators to recognize issues that impact the two groups.

During the public comments segment of the meeting, members of the Graduate Employees’ Organization addressed several issues, including economic distress among graduate students and issues affecting disabled graduate students.

This year marks the beginning of GEO’s new negotiation cycle, which takes place every three years.

In light of the negotiations, Interim GEO Vice President Chelsea Del Rio stressed the need for GSIs to assert control in their work environments. Del Rio gave examples of GSIs who were asked to grade papers during unsafe weather conditions and others whose health plans didn’t cover physical therapy.

She emphasized that GSIs play an integral role at the University.

“GSIs and GSRAs do the work that keeps the University running,” Del Rio said. “The (University) works because we do.”

In his comments to the regents, GEO Treasurer Daniel Marcin said though he appreciates his experience working as a GSI, many GSIs undergo financial distress as a result of their low pay.

“It isn’t all about the money,” Marcin said. “But we deserve a little more, and that’s what we’re asking for.”

Other issues GEO speakers addressed included the need for a policy for graduate students who have children and the possibility of including GSRAs in the GEO contract.

Following the public comments, Regent S. Martin Taylor (D–Grosse Pointe Farms) said the administration has had issues in the past with GSIs and GSRAs, but said he thought GEO and University administrators could work together in the future to resolve problems.

“I hope we can come together and reach a solution on this,” Taylor said. “It seems to me that if there’s a will, then there is probably a way.”

Marcin said in an interview after the meeting that he was happy with the regents' reaction.

“I’m very pleased with what Regent Taylor said,” Marcin said. “We think that is exactly the viewpoint that we have."

However, Marcin said he was disappointed with the lack of reaction regarding GSRA inclusion in GEO negotiations.

“We’re disappointed that we were that close to (University) President (Mary Sue) Coleman, but we still have not heard back about the meeting with her to discuss GSRA representation,” he said.

Last Thursday, members of GEO went to Coleman’s office with an oversized letter detailing their desire to allow GSRAs to join the organization so they could gain collective bargaining rights.

Marcin said it is important that these issues are finally being recognized.

“Graduate students are at risk of being considered minor in relation to other issues on this campus,” he said. “And it’s important that (the regents) remember who we are.”

Regents raise questions about lack of ‘U’ study abroad program in Israel

During a presentation on internationalization at the University by Mark Tessler, the University’s vice provost of international affairs, the regents posed questions about the absence of a University-sponsored study abroad program in Israel for undergraduates.

After Tessler said he had studied abroad in Israel, Regent Andrea Fischer Newman (R–Ann Arbor) mentioned the recent petition by University students for an overseas program in Israel.

Tessler explained that University restrictions don’t currently permit for travel to Israel.

“It is the University’s policy that in countries that are under (U.S.) State Department … travel advisory, programs that we might have there are suspended,” he said.

Tessler also said students can study in countries under a U.S. State Department travel warning through other college and university study abroad programs.