'U' GSIs feeling appreciated

Have you hugged your GSI today?

Chances are that most University students have not. But the National Association of Graduate Students is urging universities nationwide to think more about their graduate instructors during Graduate and Professional Student Appreciation Week.

Appreciation week ends tomorrow, but it never really began at the University.

"As far as I know, there have been no official activities," said Graduate Employee Organization Media Relations Coordinator Markus Kemmelmeier. "But some students have been told about it and can participate."

With GSIs feeling more appreciated than they have felt in the past, there may not be as much of a need for the week as there was in the past two years.

DANA LINNANE/Daily Greek mythology Graduate Student Instructor Karen Wang tries to get her class excited about taking a quiz yesterday.

The need for an appreciation week at the University may have been greater in the past than it is today, with GSIs saying they feel generally satisfied with their working conditions at the University.

"I think that the GSIs definitely feel appreciated," chemistry GSI Daniel Tobin said. "I feel like the department values me and the salary I receive is more than (in) many other disciplines."

University GSIs' staged a two-day walkout in April of 1996 after failing to agree on wages and international GSI training in their contract with the University.

But most GSIs have since resolved their contract issues with University administrators.

"I'd give the University a four out of five," said romance languages GSI Alexandre Dauge-Roth, who teaches French. "But the department has its own interests and during negotiations their usual good will does not appear."

GSIs biggest complaint is their salaries, which amount to about $800 per month after taxes, said romance languages GSI Steve Bishop.

"If you're a GSI who only teaches one or two classes a year then it would be impossible to live in Ann Arbor on that money alone," Bishop said. "To make up for it, (a GSI) would have to work at Taco Bell or as a waiter and miss out on some of the teaching and learning process."

Although some GSIs feel appreciated, some students said they are not thankful for their GSIs' services.

"In general, I'm not too satisfied," LSA first-year student Joanna Paine said of her three GSIs' performances. "I think there is a lack of effort overall and, in some cases, just laziness."

Seventeen universities nationwide are participating in GPSA week, including Michigan State University, Florida State University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Events include workshops and awards ceremonies.

04-09-98