The Alligator's editorial about the Graduate Student Council's proposed Graduate Student Bill of Rights pointed out that many rights expressed are already in place. However, I don't believe the aim of the bill of rights is to create new rights.
Similar to the United States Bill of Rights, the Graduate Student Bill of Rights provides an ideal to appeal to. My work with Graduate Assistants United has shown me that life is isolating for many graduate students. It is more so for international students suddenly thrust into a new culture. While graduate students are represented by SG, it focuses on undergraduate issues.
I don't understand why the Alligator objects to students' rights being clearly expressed in the Graduate Student Handbook, so abused students can know what recourse they have. Bullying has long been a quiet problem at UF, and the Graduate Student Council is taking a step to combat it.
