As graduate students, we often feel that we have no recourse, no real mechanism for dealing with problems that may arise, or even a clear elucidation of what is expected from our faculty advisors, our departments, the Graduate School, and the University. Even if a situation is resolved to the satisfaction of an individual student, there is absolutely no satisfactory mechanism for assuring that similar difficulties will not befell other students. In short, faculty seem to have almost no accountability for their actions with respect to graduate students. Discussion surrounding this issue have brought up some very troubling actions that are happening at Harvard today, in almost every department. Students are being told that they are worthless and stupid.
Students suffer verbal, sexual, and even physical abuse and harassment.
Students are told that their cherished ideals and beliefs are unimportant, and that their opinions and viewpoints do not matter. Students feel they have no forum at which to speak freely, or fear repercussions if they do. Students have their intellectual property taken without recognition and cannot get their advisor to even read their dissertations or give them an hour of time. Students have their trust violated by faculty and are effectively dismissed for health reasons. Students feel stressed by excessive and overwhelming requirements and conflicting responsibilities.