GEO strike marches on

Nora Ibrahim   News staff writer  
Updated November 17th, 2009 - 12:36 PM
November 18th, 2009 - 1:12 PM
Campus, GEO, Sarah Hennebohl, strike
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The GEO strikes continue Tuesday before the GEO votes on the University’s offers.

Sarah Hennebohl, graduate student in LAS, participated in the picketing of the Foreign Language Building. She said despite the weather, the turnout for the strikes have been very strong.

“For the Foreign Language Building alone, there have been about 250 picketing per day,” Hennebohl.

Macklyn Thornburgh, freshman in LAS, said the amount of people that showed up to strike was amazing, and that the weather didn’t seem to deter anyone.

“I am deliberating if I want to join the picket lines,” said Thornburgh. “It just feels so empowering.”

However exciting the turnout of the strike has been, Hennebohl said if the bargaining committees of the University and the GEO can’t come to terms, it would mean she would have to stop her studies. Hennebohl, as an international student, said she would have to return to her home country without any means of financing the costs of tuition.

“Without a tuition waver, I can’t pay for anything. I can’t even apply for a credit card,” said Hennebohl. “I don’t want to have to discontinue my education.”

Thornburgh said he was supportive of the cause, but hopes the strike doesn’t impede on undergraduate education as well.

“I’m all up for it,” said Thornburgh. “I just hope it doesn’t last for too long.”

Amanda Lobas, senior in Psychology said that none of her classes were affected by the strike. She said that she supports the GEO's decision to strike

"My TAs said that their jobs were secure for next year so they didn't feel the need to strike," Lobas said

Other students have already begun to feel their education is being threatened.

"The strike has affected every single person here on campus, whether or not they have had classes cancelled. You walk into the quad and instantly see crowds of shouting people. I personally have had most of my classes cancelled, which is unfair because we pay tuition for an education that we are currently not receiving," said Rachel Dobrich, a
freshman in DGS.

Jaclyn Bednar and Brynn Twait contributed to this article.

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@Rachel Dobrich: I realize

@Rachel Dobrich: I realize you may believe it unfair that classes have been canceled, and you are right it is unfair. But the strike is the lesser of two evils, considering UIUC wanted to implement a plan that would have GREATLY diminished the quality of the graduate school and hurt your quality of education far more than a two day strike. The GEO worked since April to make sure this did not happen, but UIUC was not even interested in bargaining until August and even then they would not negotiate until there was a serious strike threat around the end of October or so. If there is any blame to be given, please give it to UIUC and not the GEO.

Anonymous ECE (not verified)    11/17/2009 - 1:49 PM

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