This article appeared in the Dominion Post Newspaper on May 6, 2001. Return to the listing of articles of May 6, 2001. A graduate research assistant in accounting at Temple University, Zhou usually teaches about 100 students in two classes a semester, collects information on the stock market and files, staples and photocopies.
Most graduate assistants get nine credits of free tuition per semester, or about three classes.
The pay is set by semester, regardless of the hours put in, which can equal a full-time job. Not enough for the size of the load, she says. She and her colleagues at the Pennsylvania school voted earlier this month for representation by the American Federation of Teachers in hopes of getting better pay and benefits. Temple is just one of dozens of campuses where students are embracing unions, though the school is challenging the election with the Pennsylvania Labor Relations Board. Graduate students at the private University of Pennsylvania announced an organizing drive last week.