TO THE EDITOR:
Feb. 27, the UNC Board of Governors approved a 4.3 percent tuition hike across UNC campuses and attempted to close important research centers. While raises for faculty are welcome, the message is clear. The University, a public good, a space of independent inquiry, an incubator for the next generation of engaged citizens, is under attack.
The Board of Governors doesn’t need more tuition to pay instructors fairly. Instead, it should re-prioritize teaching and learning system-wide by dedicating a higher percentage of funds to instruction. As a teaching assistant, I am part of a group of employees working for an unlivable wage.
In fact, I received food stamps until I could find extra part-time work in addition to my teaching, coursework and research. My story isn’t unique. More than 100 faculty and students gathered at Wilson Library on Feb. 25 to protest UNC’s low pay rate. We must have the courage to stand against attacks on our public institutions. We must reinvest in the workers struggling to make ends meet who make UNC great.
Martin Caver
Graduate Student
Political Science
