Dear University of Oregon Undergraduates,
As our strike goes into its second week, we want you to know that we are thinking of you and miss you very much. It pains us to see the Administration refuse a fair contract and keep us from being in the classrooms with all of you. Your GTFs wish they could talk to you, but are not allowed during the strike. So please know that they wish they could tell you many things, but we at least have some advice for you here.
The GTFF wants you to know that if the UO Administration has changed or cancelled your finals you have the power to appeal your final grade. GTFs are very willing to go back to work the moment the strike ends. We will help create, proctor, and grade exams or make-up exams, and final papers and presentations properly. And then we can give you the actual grade you have earned.
Even if the Administration won’t accept the grades your GTFs give you, you may petition the Scholastic Review Committee to contest your grade. Petitions may be obtained from Academic Advising, 364 Oregon Hall. Go to this link for more information: http://advising.uoregon.edu/AA_Pages/AA_SeekSolutions.html
You can learn more about the petition process here.
The administration will probably not tell you that you can appeal your grade, so please share this information with all of your peers. And the GTFF cannot email all 20,000+ UO students like they can, so please help us spread the word near and far.
Also, we know you’ve heard us around campus last week. Although the UO Administration is still refusing to bargain fairly with the GTFF, and the GTFF is still on strike, you will notice a change in their presence on campus this week.
In part, you will notice that the GTFF is making an effort to maintain a quieter campus presence near exam locations, so that you will be able to concentrate on your finals. And we have some goodie bags to give out at some buildings to wish you luck on your finals as we can’t be with you inside. The GTFF fight is NOT against you, and GTFs genuinely want you all to do the best work you can. And the moment you’re done with your academic work, we hope you’ll join us on the picket lines to end this strike as soon as possible, and get GTFs back to work where they want to be. It means so much to have your support as we fight for paid parental and medical leave so that we can be the best instructors we can for all of you.
Students are the heart of the university and must be heard. Please send in your thoughts and concerns about the strike to our move-on petition:
http://petitions.moveon.org/aft/sign/university-of-oregon
We miss you all and hope to see you soon!
The GTFF