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UM's offer was insulting to every member of the UM community. We have been fighting for months to be treated as humans. Yet, UM threw scarps at us while threatening to "punish GEO" if it didn't accept the offer. What was their non-offer?
1) UM promised to hire 1 extra person at the International Center to help with the bureaucracy. No movement on the international student fee!
In other words, empty promises! This is how UM shuts down all financial demands, a non financial promise.
In other words, empty promises! This is how UM shuts down all financial demands, a non financial promise.
2) UM extended the childcare subsidy to unlicensed providers, but cut the subsidy in HALF, added a laborious application process, and then argued that the subsidy could only be used for outside care. In other words, you can't get financial support to take care of a family member.
3) Remote Work option came with a flat denial. We were offered a several week bureaucratic process that left UM as the final decider in whether GSIs/GSSAs, teach in person or remote. They changed nothing, but added a farce process of democracy. Again ... like they always do!
4) A promise that we graduate students will have the ability to apply to another "brand" new Rackham COVID emergency fund. Rackham's funds are discriminatory, overly bureaucratic, decentralized, and unused! UM still has millions left in CARE Act funding, but let's open a new fund
5) Deadline and timeline extensions received a nod, but like the funding issue above, it is an overly bureaucratic, decentralized, and discriminatory application tied with promises of equity.
6) UM refused to release any new info beyond summaries of current plans and reports. With that little info, we found out that UM has been flying blind and is unprepared for an outbreak! This is a cover up, not transparency.
7) UM refused to even talk about the policing demands! In fact, they threatened to "punish GEO" if we kept talking about our policing demands while also hinting at the idea of increasing the budget for DPSS. You don't fix white supremacy by giving it more money!
UM offered nothing substantial, but then threatened to "punish GEO" in court. We are in a moment where the world is angry. Leaders are forcing workers into life and death decisions while preaching about their support for us! Put your money where your mouth is! #UMMakesUsSick
