How many graduate students have gone to any of the concerts paid for with student fees? How many routinely attend any of the guest speakers paid for — at least in part — with the fees?
I and many other graduate students would have loved to have been part, but we could not attend. As graduate students, we fulfill our graduate coursework, study for exams, compose manuscripts for submission to journals and pursue research. In addition, as graduate assistants, we grade assignments, teach courses and mentor undergraduates so they obtain the best chances of succeeding in an increasingly competitive marketplace.
For those of us unable to obtain fellowships or assistantships, we maintain outside employment so we can pay tuition, rent, and activity and service fees. We miss out on many of the things funded through the Student Government budget not because we have to.
There is a gross inequity with regard to the types of activities and events sponsored by SG and paid for — in part — with graduate student funds. For example, assuming funding for the Graduate Student Council came entirely from graduate student contributions, GSC’s budget would account for less than 3 percent of graduate student contributions.
It is both puzzling and problematic that an organization with an interest in promoting graduate student research would receive such a small share of graduate funds with the remainder going instead to nonacademic activities with little relevance to graduate pursuits. Florida law obligates SG to utilize fees for the benefit of the entire Student Body. For too long, graduate students have paid for activities they may never use or enjoy.
As the graduate assistants’ union demonstrated the lack of transparency and burden imposed by fees, it is time that SG recognizes these faults in its administration. Graduate students deserve to have their money spent in better ways with increased attention to their interests, even if it means SG giving every graduate student a refund for their fees. Students should get what they pay for.
The Students Party and I believe this is a reasonable request, and we will fight to ensure all students receive efficient and effective use of their student fees.
