My sister, who’s a grad student and TA at the University of Illinois, is on strike. The issue, as I understand it, is that the University Administrators are making threatening gestures towards tuition wavers (specifically out-of-state tuition waivers, which my sister gets). Shame on you, UI! You pay these kids peanuts to do much of the real teaching work while charging your students up the wazoo for their degree. And when it comes time to save a few bucks, who do you shaft? THE WORKERS!
Oh, and not for nothin’, but this looks like a pretty fun strike, what with the drumming circles and all. On the other hand, my sister says standing around in the rain in 40-degree weather isn’t so great. You can see her (at least I think it’s her) at minute 2:41 of this video; she’s in the charcoal grey hoodie with the black and white sign you can’t read because apparently she’s got the frikkin’ whole of Das Kapital printed on it or something. (Way to market your message there, Madame Mao.)
Up with the GEO! UI, you dirty bastards, you’d better cave soon or I’m on my way out to Illinois to kick some ass.
