Date: Sun, 16 Dec 2001 18:10:07 +1100
Subject: suleri


Does anybody have any comments on this kind of role of a postcolonial 
critic? This is old news but it seems to substantiate Arif Dirlik's claims 
about the class affiliations of postcolonial intellectuals.

Saeed
_______________
Sara Goodyear spoke to University students about her experiences at Yale
She defended her decision to oppose the graduate strike at Yale at 
yesterday's forum
By Maria Hill
Cavalier Daily Senior Writer
Amid a whirlwind of controversy about her opposition to the recent graduate 
student grade strike at Yale University, Yale English Prof. Sara Suleri 
Goodyear addressed a room of more than 100 University graduate students 
last night in Minor Hall auditorium.
The Yale University teaching assistants refused to turn in their grades 
until they were able to negotiate their salaries and fight for employee 
status.
Goodyear was the graduate supervisor for Cynthia Young, one of three 
teaching assistants Yale officially reprimanded for participating in the 
Graduate Employment Student Union Organization strike Jan. 15. She opposed 
the strike and the students' demand for recognition as employees who can 
bargain collectively.
"Just as I do not believe in apologizing for poetry, I do not believe in 
adopting an attitude of defense," Goodyear said at the beginning of the 
meeting.
Goodyear said although she did not oppose the right of GESO to present 
grievences, she did not believe a grade strike was a proper avenue for 
graduate students to employ.
"I was not informed of the grade strike, and I do not believe that any 
strike should lead downwards," affecting undergraduate students by costing 
them their grade reports, she said.
One of the most controversial points made during the evening was the 
question of employee versus student status.
"I do not believe that graduate students are employees," Goodyear said. 
"Teaching is a privilege and a part of regular training."
University graduate students, similar to their Yale counterparts, are 
requesting a $700 pay raise per class for next semester. The last pay raise 
for teaching assistants was in the 1988 school year, said English graduate 
student Dan Rosensweig, who is leading the effort for pay raises.
Rosensweig said the role of a graduate student as an apprentice has changed 
with time.
"Universities are relying on an old model; there is an intense glut of job 
opportunities available out there. The Yale strike is the first and most 
prominent sign that there has to be a rethinking," he said.
Goodyear addressed the audience's concern about the lack of job prospects 
for students with higher degrees.
"The fact that there are not enough jobs is forcing some people to see an 
"us versus them" situation where the University is the enemy," Goodyear said.
She said her department is considering solutions to alleviate the situation 
at Yale but uphold the traditional role of graduate students as 
non-employee-status workers.
Several graduate students in the audience saw the relationship between the 
University and graduate students differently.
"Universities work like corporations," English graduate student Michael 
Rodi said. "Yale's profit comes from educating its students, and graduate 
students provide a lot of the work that provides them this profit."




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