Fellow workers,
This week, I hope we continue to show love to our Turkish and Syrian communities at UMASS by sharing the letter provided by Turkish grad students and encouraging your networks to make donations. We also wanted to highlight two civil society organizations providing aid to Syria, since the ones in the letter primarily serve Turkey.
White Helmets: https://www.whitehelmets.org/en/?fbclid=PAAaZAOGjp_8MOkTeGp4ggLiO66MGgCmN6z-B2mqWhXYuDR9oUpzWFhxS95qM
The Molham team: https://molhamteam.com/en/campaigns/439
In addition, we have heard disturbing news that at least 10 members were charged for a meal plan (YCMP2) without their knowledge. Please make sure to double check your fees breakdown for the spring. We have attached a picture of the breakdown of spring fees from a grad student, who is enrolled in 9 credits and their account charged with a meal plan (YCMP2) without their knowledge. Check your own account by going to Spire – Finances – Account Summary & Details – Spring 2023 – View Account Detail. If there is anything that you didn’t sign up for, please contact the Bursar’s Office bursar and copy us on the email (geo) in order to correct your billing account.
Events and Solidarity Actions:
Celebrate Black History Month:
On February 27th, from 6-8 pm Join the Graduate Students of Color Association and the GEO for Black History Trivia Night! Come test your knowledge on the lives of People of Color around the world (categories include pop culture, history, current events, etc.). We will be providing food and drinks. The event will be in Campus Center 163. Please RSVP here.
Fight for a Debt-Free Future:
Higher Education for All Advocacy Day on Feb. 28; let’s get student debt canceled folks! GEO has been working in conjunction with the Higher Ed Coalition, a consortium of labor unions and campus organizations from public universities across Massachusetts. While the coalition is fighting for increased funding to public universities, along with the building of green infrastructure, it is committed to the elimination of student loan debt for graduate workers at UMass campuses. Higher Ed for All Advocacy Day will be held on Tuesday, February 28, 2023 from 10:30-2:30 PM. There will be multiple buses available to bring students, faculty, staff, and community partners to the State House. Prior to the State House event, there will be two remote Advocacy Trainings. These training sessions are held on Thursday, February 16, 2023 at 12:00 PM and Tuesday, February 21, 2023 at 6:00 PM. Please sign up for these events and help spread the word! We have an opportunity to build a fair and equitable higher ed that serves the people, not corporations. But to do that, we need everyone who can to show up at the State House and hold our elected officials accountable!
Advocacy Day 2/28/23: Registration Link for event, Bus Registration Link
Sign ESAM’s Petition:
The UMass Environmental and Social Action Movement (ESAM), a coalition of students and campus unions, has just launched a petition urging UMass to “Kick Climate Criminals Off Campus.” You can sign the petition by clicking here or by pasting this link into your address bar: https://forms.gle/FqJ7ZMnyUWJ1Fc58A.
Why this campaign? In recent years UMass has taken some important steps toward environmental sustainability. However, it continues to do business with what UN Secretary-General António Guterres calls the “financial accomplices” of climate destruction. UMass deposits its money – of course, our money – with the top 4 banks that fund climate destruction (JP Morgan Chase, Citi, Wells Fargo, and Bank of America) and purchases insurance from 2 of the dirtiest insurers (AIG and W.R. Berkley). Those financial accomplices are just as guilty as Exxon or Shell.
Get Involved with GSS:
There will be an ice-skating social this Sunday, February 19th, starting at 12:30. There will be free snacks! RSVP so they know how many to buy.
GSS Senators are also planning a game night for March 3rd, Friday, from 6 pm to 11 pm. They need folks for sign-ins, the food line, a photographer, a DJ, and help with flyer/ announcement distribution. If you’re interested, let us know and we will connect you with the folks organizing.
As always, reach out to geo if there’s anything we can share, support, or organize with you.
Earthquake Donation Letter.pdf
HEFA_Advocacy_Day_flyer_2023.pdf
