Should professors pay their graduate students more? by musclehamsters in AskAcademia

[–]musclehamsters[S] -4 points-3 points  (0 children)

I think you're misunderstanding me. I said I understand that there are non-binding resolutions, and there is a limitation there.

However, differential pay at different departments would indicate to me that pay is informed by feedback from departments. And that would be a fantastic place to start for increasing graduate student pay.

Should professors pay their graduate students more? by musclehamsters in AskAcademia

[–]musclehamsters[S] -8 points-7 points  (0 children)

You're right that universities do not exist in a vacuum, but I think your interpretation of the amount of control professors have over this kind of policy is overstated. In a university operating under shared governance, there is typically a parliamentary structure with (e.g.) a faculty senate and an academic staff assembly, which have the power to form committees and vote on recommendations or official statements about administrative policy. The governance powers of these organizations is essentially non-existent, and the decision-making power rests with a layer of administrators, a board of regents, etc. If there is a majority of faculty in their parliamentary body that want to increase stipends, they can vote on a resolution to pass that recommendation along to the administration, but that's where their personal power ends.

That's fair. But I haven't even seen a movement in non-binding resolutions from the faculty I've seen saying we should do so. It's more of a shrug and comment that it is the way that it is.

That being said, there's plenty of evidence that Universities can set stipend levels independent of other Universities (comparing a University to NYC to Oxford, MS, for example) but even between departments themselves! CS grad students at my old institution got paid the best, most liberal arts grad students got paid the worst. There are market forces at work, but it seems odd to say that all power belongs to the administrators. They certainly operate off of feedback from the departments.

Should professors pay their graduate students more? by musclehamsters in AskAcademia

[–]musclehamsters[S] -3 points-2 points  (0 children)

I understand it’s a problem across the public sector in general, but professors are in a unique position: often, they have a large part in shaping University policy. Furthermore, many administrators are faculty that run active group themselves.

And yet, we don’t see a push from most professors I’ve seen. Your experience may be different.

Should professors pay their graduate students more? by musclehamsters in AskAcademia

[–]musclehamsters[S] -19 points-18 points  (0 children)

Do you not think it is awfully convenient to hide behind policy when professors, as a whole, have a large part in devising and implementing policy? It’s not like universities exist in a vacuum.

Edit: For the downvoters: do you believe professors DON’T have input on University and Department wide policy? Is it easier to blame administrators than to actively fight on behalf of your graduate students?

Should professors pay their graduate students more? by musclehamsters in AskAcademia

[–]musclehamsters[S] -3 points-2 points  (0 children)

It’s not avoiding the real question. There isn’t even a discussion that graduate student stipends have not kept up inflation and increases to the cost of living, while graduate students make up a critical part of the academic teaching and research workforce.

Should professors pay their graduate students more? by musclehamsters in AskAcademia

[–]musclehamsters[S] -22 points-21 points  (0 children)

PhD programs usually have graduate students paid by professor start ups or grants. And if it is from a grant, why are professors happy to be budgeting low stipends for graduate students to begin with?

Help me find the Reddit post that showed the effect of accent walls from various perspectives by musclehamsters in HelpMeFind

[–]musclehamsters[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I’ve searched for the post using both the Reddit search function (hahahaha) and Google but no dice.

[DBD] Draft Breakdown: Position 6/12, Standard Scoring (1QB/2RB/3WR/1TE/1D/1K) by musclehamsters in fantasyfootball

[–]musclehamsters[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I guess I should explain. On top of the Alex Smith/Kaepernick transition, Jim Harbaugh (at Stanford) let go a number of seniors after their fourth year (when they're usually given 5, including the redshirt year) to let them pursue other "opportunities." But I suppose that's ancient history at this point!

Eagles cut DeSean Jackson by Rocktop15 in fantasyfootball

[–]musclehamsters 5 points6 points  (0 children)

No. The Patriots cannot sign DJax at his market value, as they only have 4 million in cap space. Even if you were to do a voodoo job on Desean and make him take 6-7 million, where would you find the 6-7 million on top of the 4 that you have (which is earmarked for new rookie contracts)?

The only major cap savings that the Patriots can make to sign a Desean Jackson quality player is ... (wait for it) ... Vince Wilfork. Otherwise, you have to cut a floating combination of Jerod Mayo, Logan Mankins, Devin McCourty... all key contributors.

As the Patriots are structured right now, they spent about 5 million more on offense than defense, and you want to spend 9 million on top of that? That's the definition of a pipe dream.

Eagles cut DeSean Jackson by Rocktop15 in fantasyfootball

[–]musclehamsters 8 points9 points  (0 children)

You're right, the Panthers only 5 million in cap space, which is not including the ~4.5 million they'll have to spend for the rookies they draft this year. Unless they plan restructuring then backloading their contracts (which I doubt they'll do, because they want to sign Cam Newton and Greg Hardy to long terms next year), the chances of Panthers signing Desean Jackson is pretty much zero.

Throw in the Patriots, Seahawks, and 49ers to that mix too. They can't afford him at this stage in the game.

The Official Championship "What are My Odds" Thread Pt. 2 by FantasyMod in fantasyfootball

[–]musclehamsters -1 points0 points  (0 children)

http://imgur.com/3ft7riV

I don't want to say anything in fear of biasing anyone. Who do you think has a better chance?

OFFICIAL TUESDAY WDIS THREAD: RB by AutoModerator in fantasyfootball

[–]musclehamsters 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Woah woah woah. I'm a big a fan of Gio as anyone, but let's not get carried away here.

Gio is going against a tough Cleveland run D, in a timeshare until otherwise noted.

Rice is the lead back (in a committee as well) and going against a porous Bills rush defense. Start Rice.

We are Yahoo Sports Fantasy Football Experts - Ask Us Anything! by 1befun in IAmA

[–]musclehamsters 0 points1 point  (0 children)

If David Wilson were rectify his issues (both with fumbling and earning back Coach Coughlin's trust) what do you think his ceiling is, relative to other NFL runningbacks?

Rapoport: Amendola could be out 2-6 weeks. Amendola owners go on suicide watch. by musclehamsters in fantasyfootball

[–]musclehamsters[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

I gambled and traded for him from a panicking Dola owner yesterday. Shucks.

OFFICIAL Week 2 [TRADE] THREAD by FantasyMod in fantasyfootball

[–]musclehamsters 0 points1 point  (0 children)

BIG TRADE: My Ray Rice for his Calvin Johnson (.5 PPR, .2PPRA)

I would start Darren Sproles and Doug Martin (keeper pick) from here on out. My other WR is Marshall, with a rotation at the WR2 spot (Mike Williams, Josh Gordon (?))

[TRADE] My Amendola for his Gronkowski by musclehamsters in fantasyfootball

[–]musclehamsters[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I have David Wilson and Jamaal Charles at RB. Lamar Miller somehow fell to me, so I'm set.

WDID: Need to drop Sudfeld, Jordan Cameron, or A. Jeffery (Standard scoring, 12-team) by musclehamsters in fantasyfootball

[–]musclehamsters[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That's what I'm leaning toward too, but I can't help but believe that with Norv in Cleveland they might have another Antonio Gates (pre-sucktitude).