October 1, 1997
Biology Graduate Student Association
Boston University
Biology Department
5 Cummington Street
Boston, MA 02215
BGSA@bio.bu.edu
Dr. Dennis Berkey
Dean of Graduate School of Arts and Sciences
Boston University
705 Commonwealth Avenue
Boston, MA 02215
Dear Dean Berkey:
We, the Biology Graduate Student Association (BGSA), greatly appreciate your response to our letter regarding the disparity in Teaching Fellow stipends between incoming students and current students.
As you know our association was formed to represent those graduate students in the Department of Biology. In addition to representing the social needs of this multi-divisional department we also represent the academic and financial issues as well. In this regard, we are finding it difficult to explain to those current teaching fellows the reasons why this disparity in stipends must exist. In the spirit of better and more effective communication we invite you to come meet with executive members of the BGSA. Not only could we discuss the above issue but it would be a great opportunity for us, the BGSA, to present to you the ideas we have to make a positive impact on both the department and the graduate students. With enough notice we all meet around your schedule. Alternatively, if your schedule does not permit, we could meet with Dean Whitaker.
Sincerely,
Ioannis Batjakas
Chairperson, BGSA