A protest in response to recent budget cuts proposed by University of Connecticut administrators, organized by the American Association of University Professors and the UConn Graduate Employee & Postdoc Union (GEU) took place during a university senate meeting on Feb. 5. The Daily Campus Editorial Board has previously covered these proposed budget cuts, including the impact they will have on the 10-year strategic plan, the misguided fiscal decisions from the state government that have helped create it, the administration’s lack of communication with students and UConn’s poor financial planning which dug its own grave in this issue. However, one topic that has not been discussed is the personal effect it will have upon some of the most vulnerable communities in this university: graduate students.
Four hundred thirty graduate students and postdocs shared their primary concerns about the effects of these budget cuts on their jobs and student lives in an open letter to University President Radenka Maric. Increases in class sizes, the loss of UConn’s Research 1 classification, decreased graduate research opportunities as well as entire graduate programs, less support for international students and a drain on the university’s overall academic atmosphere. According to GEU President Grace Easterly, “The quality of education and research at UConn could dramatically decline.”
The problems they mention that are likely to come if these budget cuts are passed are not just the problem of graduate students; the amount of value these people bring to UConn as a whole cannot be understated. The teaching assistance, research, money and recognition they bring to this school are vital to UConn’s effectiveness in reaching its goal of being an “elite research university.” If these programs are cut, it reflects poorly on the entirety of the university as well, which is something that each student will feel in the value of their degree after graduation. We spend our time and thousands of dollars here at UConn because we believe, among other things, that the value of our education will provide us with better opportunities. If the organization we are investing the entirety of ourselves into continues to make rash financial decisions that will tarnish its reputation, then it is students who will ultimately face the consequences of these decisions.
As students, we are all united in improving this university for everyone. We stand with the GEU’s demands and urge everyone to follow their example on this issue. It is imperative that we all petition our legislators to prioritize funding for this university and help elevate on-campus demands for budgetary transparency and accountability.