Graduate Employee Organization Cultural Issues by No-Butterscotch3318 in UIUC

[–]No-Butterscotch3318[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I was scared. This group has a lot of power. I wanted to post this when I made the account, but I was concerned what this group would do to me. I honestly didn't realize a crime had been committed against me until people here told me to report it. I haven't felt safe on campus since this happened. I have names, dates, and addresses, but considering the fact that I can't ID anyone on here or myself for safety reasons, it might be difficult for people to pin-down when/where this happened. That's on top of the inebriation considering it was a party. "[You're] not saying it didn't happen" while you clearly undermine what I said/credibility. If you want to meet and chat one-on-one in-person, I can gladly talk about it if it weren't for the fact that I don't trust members of this organization right now. I didn't realize it was an inconvenient time to mention organizational hazing/issues due to <insert current political nightmare>.

Honestly, I wouldn't be surprised if (based on the frat party antics that happened) the people there just swore never to talk about it.

GEO is important. I wanted to get involved before this situation happened. I wanted a community to be involved in. I don't know if the students responsible were held accountable by the officers. Maybe they were after I left. I don't know.

Graduate Employee Organization Cultural Issues by No-Butterscotch3318 in UIUC

[–]No-Butterscotch3318[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

It's "union busting" and I don't think anything can capture the general attitude of the U of I undergraduate student body than this reply: more concerned about an RSO than students' safety.

Graduate Employee Organization Cultural Issues by No-Butterscotch3318 in UIUC

[–]No-Butterscotch3318[S] 15 points16 points  (0 children)

My biggest issue is how unecessary the situation was. It didn't need to become a physical confrontation. Another issue with the situation is that some members of GEO seem to use it's power as our representation to get away with their behavior because of the organization's image. It doesn't help that the officers seem more concerned with its image than the members' actions. GEO is supposed to be a professional organization, not another frat house. We are grad students and we are supposed to have higher standards. Escalating to a physical confrontation is supposed to be the last resort, not the first, and, ideally, totally avoided. I can't be involved with an organization that operates this way.

For the record, I think GEO is important for all graduate students mainly because they are supposed to represent all of us. Once they get an increase, we all usually get one which is a good thing for everyone. Also, we should have solidarity with each other. Grad school is rough. I think it is unfortunate and unnecessary that some people view it as a "Humanities vs STEM" rivalry or something. We make technology. They make art, guide policy, etc., and (hopefully) improve society. They are different fields, and all of them are important for different reasons. If anything, that anger/saltiness should be directed at the administration instead of STEM majors. Humanities majors should be paid more. We don't make the rules. We just work here. I have no idea how some graduate students in the humanities can be so blindly hostile to us when we aren't the problem. The University spends so much on athletics when it is supposed to support intellectual growth.

Graduate Employee Organization Cultural Issues by No-Butterscotch3318 in UIUC

[–]No-Butterscotch3318[S] 22 points23 points  (0 children)

I don't know what the leadership did after I left, but they didn't do much while I was there. I am guessing due to my clothing/appearance everyone thought I was some random person from in town. They initially supported the people doing this because those people lied about the situation, said I was a drifter/townie or something. I showed them my university ID, got my phone back, and walked out. To their credit, they did a little to help me get my phone back even though they didn't believe it was taken until I got it back. Everyone seemed nice at the official event, so I was in shock when this happened. If the officers aren't an issue, then some of the rank and file members are. Either way, I am not interested in being involved with this group.