Subject: Grad Assoc. - last Fri, Oct 24, 97 meeting

Hello-

I'd like to say that I was very happy to see the large number of
students at this past Friday's CAS grad. student assoc. meeting.
Thanks you for all your interest in the assoc. and the TF pay issue.
Approximately 14 depts. where represented at the meeting.

Below is an outline of what we discussed at the meeting.  We spent a
good amount of time on preliminaries, such as getting to know each
other's situation.  I think we'll be able to get more into the "guts" of
discussing the merits of different ideas both for the grad. assoc. in
general and for approaching the TF pay issue at the next meeting.  Look
for an announcement of the next meeting to be held this coming week.

Thanks,

--Rob Pitts

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Meeting Outline:
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Recapped the TF pay disparities.  The *general* situation is:

	Natural		Humanities/
	Sciences +	Social		Music +
	Economics	Sciences	Intl Relations
	=========	========	===============

   Old:	$10,500		 $9,500		no TFs
   New:	$11,500		$10,500

  - Some TFs also get additional money as Presidential University
    Graduate Fellows (PUGFs).

  - One dept. did not accept the raise for new TFs to be fair
    to old ones.

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Discussed the situation in each dept. represented.  Some of the
differences between depts. are:

  - how many TFs (how competitive to get).
  - ratio of old/new TFs.
  - how long can be a TF.
  - whether there are research assistantships (RAs) available
    for funding.
  - differences in number of discussions/labs taught.
  - whether teach discussion/lab or main lecture.
  - whether there is a dept. graduate assoc. or other student
    representation.
  - whether grads. are concerned about the TF pay issue.

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TF pay other places:

  - BU College of Engineering:

    + all get $11,500 for acad. year.
    + get one-time 10% raise after passing qualifying exams.

  - Area universities:

    + estimates are that TFs make slightly more than we do for equal or
      less duties.

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Ideas for trying to resolve the TF pay disparity:

  (Note that these ideas were given in a "brainstorming" format.
  We will discuss the merits of them at a future meeting.)

  - Arm ourselves with Statistics

    + how many TFs in CAS (i.e., how much money would be needed
      for raises)
    + is that amount of money a lot relative to other spending areas? 

  - Faculty support

  - Petition from all depts.

  - Send tons of individual letters

  - Inform undergraduates & their parents

  - Inform media: newspaper/TV

    + about TF pay
    + about grad. assoc.

  - Meet with Dean

  - Rally

  - Unionize

  - Strike

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Other ideas for the grad. assoc. mentioned:

  - Socialization between depts.
  - Assist with grad. student complaints
  - Small source of income for assoc.

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