Dear Chancellor Subbaswamy, Provost John McCarthy, and IPO Director Ken Reade, 

As you are likely aware, a coalition of graduate students and allies have developed demands that the University steer from a position of austerity in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and in the coming months and year. Further, the GEO International Student Caucus has developed demands specific to our international graduate researcher community, as many face dramatic uncertainties because of this pandemic and are least likely to be able to be able to access the Federal stimulus check, work off campus, and (like all graduate student workers), access unemployment benefits. And without access to federal assistance programs extended to other kinds of workers generally, but most certainly during this pandemic, graduate workers are in a uniquely terrible position as summer approaches and most of our contracts come to an end. Our demands address baseline survival, while we hear from the University’s highest earners that cuts are inevitable, that the University’s budget is taking a hit, and that it’s the lowest earners and most precariously employed that are expected to take that hit. 

We know you know how important we are to this University, and if there is any hope that its research will continue, you need to address our needs immediately. 

As you can see below, over 800 people have signed this letter (both the broader grad demands and the international letter). The demands of International students also have widening support from alumnae and faculty from public universities in the U.S and abroad and such support is continually coming in. Here is what they have to say:

• “I’m a professor at Ohio State University, and I strongly support this letter – for UMass-Amherst, for Ohio State, and elsewhere.” 
• “As an alumnus of UMass Amherst, I am deeply concerned about the financial, academic, and medical well-being of my graduate student colleagues still at the university. I fully support their list of demands, and the administration’s response may influence how I give back to the university in the future.” 
• “I’m a graduate alum. This is the right thing to do! It’s time to prioritize people. And in doing so, the institution has so much to gain – not least of which is the prevention of a brain drain.” 

The School of Education endorses the demand letters for the International students and hence, by extension, both letters. And we have written to GPDs and chairs in about 80% of the departments at UMass Amherst with both letters, asking them to become aware and friendly faculty to come out in support at the faculty senate.  

The growing number of us who have cosigned these demands expect a response from you by this Thursday, April 23 at 5pm. 

Sincerely,
Anna-Claire Steffen
Union Representative/Organizer & Trustee UAW Local 2322