------------------------------------------------------------ Graduate Assistants United eNewsletter Vol. 3, No. 6, March 1, 2004 http://www.ufgau.org ------------------------------------------------------------ ============================================================ IN THIS ISSUE: Protest the Fee! Q&A: I am not an International Student. Why should I care about the International Student fee? Student Government Runoff Elections ============================================================ PROTEST THE FEE! TUESDAY, MARCH 2 9:30 AM TURLINGTON PLAZA Flier: http://www.ufgau.org/fg/intlfeeworkshopflier.pdf As the result of our pressure on the UF administration, the UF administration is finally following proper rulemaking procedure to legally implement the $50/semester International Student Fee. We will be there in full force providing them with reasons why this fee should not be implemented. This may be your last opportunity to convince the administration this fee should be revoked. BE THERE! Be sure to bring your friends, too. We have been working for over a year to convince the administration to hold this hearing. To see that this fee was revoked at the University of Wisconsin: http://www.badgerherald.com/vnews/display.v/ART/2003/08/29/3f4e3ab643409 Q&A Q: I AM NOT AN INTERNATIONAL STUDENT, WHY SHOULD I CARE ABOUT THE $50/SEMESTER FEE FOR INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS? A: There are several reasons, among them: 1) It is wrong to discriminate against international students by making them pay this fee, when it is the entire university and general public who benefit from the services this fee is supposed to fund. 2) There was no formal rulemaking process to impliment this fee. If we do not challenge this precedent, we are leaving ourselves open to further unjust fees in the future. 3) The services were mandated by the Federal Government if the University wished to continue to employ foreign workers in the capacity of graduate assistants. The University would not be able to function if not for the international graduate assistants (approximately 1,400), while if these visa services were not provided, international students would simply find another school to do thier teaching and research. Therefore, the University is the primary beneficiary of the services provided by this fee, and the costs should be assigned to the general University operating funds. Approximately half of all international students at UF are graduate assistants, and 43% of all graduate assistants are international students. There are 4,081 graduate assistants at UF altogether. 4) Other employees of the University are not charged for University services to help them obtain/retain their visas. Graduate assistants should likewise not be charged. STUDENT GOVERNMENT ELECTIONS Student Government runoff elections will be held Wednesday. Polls will be open from 8 AM – 8 PM. It is important that graduate assistants participate in student government elections because there can be implications for graduate assistants on student government issues regarding student activity fees, student health insurance, and travel grants. Please vote. GAU does not endorse any candidates or parties in this election. However, we have been asked to research and identify the candidates who are graduate assistants, and we have found one. You may wish to take her status as a graduate assistant into consideration when voting. Sheema Freeman, Treasurer Candidate, Innovate Party ----------------------------------------------------------------- You are being sent this email because Graduate Assistants United represents you in University employment matters. If you would like to be added to the list, please send an email to GAU Co-President frank.goeddeke@cba.ufl.edu -----------------------------------------------------------------