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Urbana, IL – The University of Illinois has a world-class reputation for undergraduate education and research. But do the parents and students of Illinois know that this reputation is sustained by the labor of some 5,800 graduate student employees who work as teachers, researchers, academic advisors and clerical staff?
The University administration refuses to recognize graduate employees as workers. It claims their work is educational, and their pay is merely financial aid.
On April 8, 9:30 am, the Graduate Employees’ Organization will hold a press conference to kick off a three-day public demonstration of graduate employees’ work. Graduate employees from across campus will bring their work to the Henry Administration Building and the U of I Quad from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. We will teach, grade, counsel students, and do research and class preparation. At the press conference, brief statements of support will be made by Michael Bérubé, Professor of English, and Judy Stoll, President of AFSCME Local 3700. To learn more about who is teaching and advising undergraduates, and conducting important research for the University, please attend our press conference.
The press conference will take place on the east (quad) side of the Henry Administration Building at 506 S. Wright Street. Photographers will have an opportunity to take pictures or video of an undergraduate class of 500 students that is taught entirely by graduate teaching assistants.